Superdiffusion induced by a long-correlated external random force

Abstract

We consider a particle immersed in a thermal reservoir and simultaneously subjected to an external random force that drives the system to a nonequilibrium situation. Starting from a Langevin equation description, we derive exact expressions for the mean-square displacement and the velocity autocorrelation function of the diffusing particle. An effective temperature is introduced to characterize the deviation from the internal equilibrium situation. Using a power-law force autocorrelation function, the mean-square displacement and the velocity autocorrelation function are analytically obtained in terms of Mittag-Leffler functions. In this case, we show that the present model exhibits a superdiffusive regime as a consequence of the competition between passive and active processes. © 2011 American Physical Society.