Theory of Convective Diffusion

Abstract

We obtain a hydrodynamic theory of diffusive-scale dynamics in one-dimensional systems with interacting sound modes in the absence of self-interactions. Chaotic systems generically feature three distinct Gaussian relaxation processes: besides normal diffusion, driven by microscopic noise stemming from fast-decaying non-hydrodynamic modes, collisions between sound modes lead to two additional channels: convective diffusion manifesting as an effective multiplicative temporal noise, and an effective additive noise generated by the surrounding hydrodynamic modes. Our theory also includes, as a subclass, integrable systems described by generalized hydrodynamics, representing a pure realization of convective diffusion. Focusing on convective diffusion, we obtain an exact closed-form expression for the higher-point dynamical correlation functions and contrast their structure with those of normal diffusion. Additionally, we show that in convective diffusion each sound mode features a universal non-Gaussian distribution of charge transfer in its comoving frame, thereby establishing anomalous fluctuations as a characteristic feature of diffusive-scale dynamics in integrable systems.