Abstract. Totally asymmetric simple exclusion processes, consisting of two coupled parallel lattice chains with particles interacting with hard-core exclusion and moving along the channels and between them, are considered. In the limit of strong coupling between the channels, the particle currents, density profiles and a phase diagram are calculated exactly by mapping the system into an effective one-channel totally asymmetric exclusion model. For intermediate couplings, a simple approximate theory, that describes the particle dynamics in vertical clusters of two corresponding parallel sites exactly and neglects the correlations between different vertical clusters, is developed. It is found that, similarly to the case of one-channel totally asymmetric simple exclusion processes, there are three stationary state phases, although the phase boundaries and stationary properties strongly depend on inter-channel coupling. An extensive computer Monte Carlo simulations fully support the theoretical predictions.

Abstract. Totally asymmetric simple exclusion processes on lattices with junctions, where particles interact with hard-core exclusion and move on parallel lattice branches that at the junction combine into a single lattice segment, are investigated. A simple approximate theory, that treats the correlations around the junction position in a mean-field fashion, is developed in order to calculate stationary particle currents, density profiles and a phase diagram. It is shown that there are three possible stationary phases depending on the state of each of the lattice branch. At firstorder phase boundaries, where the density correlations are important, a modified phenomenological domain-wall theory, that accounts for correlations, is introduced. Extensive Monte Carlo computer simulations are performed to investigate the system, and it is found that they are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.

Abstract.Multi-particle non-equilibrium dynamics in two-channel asymmetric exclusion processes with narrow entrances is investigated theoretically. Particles move on two parallel lattices in opposite directions without changing them, while the channels are coupled only at the boundaries. A particle cannot enter the corresponding lane if the exit site of the other lane is occupied. Stationary phase diagrams, particle currents and densities are calculated in a mean-field approximation. It is shown that there are four stationary phases in the system, with two of them exhibiting spontaneous symmetry breaking phenomena. Extensive Monte Carlo computer simulations confirm qualitatively our predictions, although the phase boundaries and stationary properties deviate from the mean-field results. Computer simulations indicate that several dynamic and phase properties of the system have a strong size dependency, and one of the stationary phases predicted by the mean-field theory disappears in the thermodynamic limit.

Simple exclusion processes for particles moving along two parallel lattices and jumping between them are theoretically investigated for asymmetric rates of transition between the channels. An approximate theoretical approach, that describes the particle dynamics exactly in any vertical cluster of two parallel sites and neglects the correlations between the different vertical clusters, is applied to calculate stationary-state density profiles, currents and phase diagrams. Surprisingly, it is found that asymmetry in the coupling between the channels leads to a very complex phase behavior that is very different from two-channel simple exclusion processes with symmetric coupling. There are seven stationary-state phases in the simple exclusion processes with asymmetric transition rates between the channels, in contrast to three phases found for the systems with symmetric coupling. In addition, a new maximal-current phase with a domain wall in the middle of the lattices, that has no analogs in other exclusion processes, is observed. Although the explicit calculations are presented only for the case of full asymmetry, when the particles can only jump between the channels in one direction, the properties of two-channel simple exclusion systems with general asymmetry are also discussed. Theoretical predictions are in excellent agreement with extensive computer Monte Carlo simulations.

Transport of molecular motors, stimulated by interactions with specific links between consecutive binding sites (called "bridges"), is investigated theoretically by analyzing discrete-state stochastic "burnt-bridge" models. When an unbiased diffusing particle crosses the bridge, the link can be destroyed ("burned") with a probability p, creating a biased directed motion for the particle. It is shown that for probability of burning p = 1 the system can be mapped into one-dimensional single-particle hopping model along the periodic infinite lattice that allows one to calculate exactly all