Differences between fixed time step and kinetic Monte Carlo methods for biased diffusion

V. RUIZ BARLETT; J. J. BIGEÓN; M. HOYUELOS; H. O. MÁRTIN

JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Año: 2009 vol. 228 p. 5740 - 5748

0021-9991

We consider biased diffusion in a one dimensional lattice and compareresults obtained with fixed time step and kinetic Monte Carlomethods.  Spurious dispersion and particle position correlationappear with the fixed time step Monte Carlo approach. The mentionedcorrelation increases with time. We demonstrate that the correctresults, that correspond to a time step that tends to zero, areobtained using the kinetic Monte Carlo method.  The conclusions alsoapply to biased diffusion in two or more dimensions and to randomdeposition.