Dynamical phase transition to localized states in the two-dimensional random walk conditioned on partial currents

Abstract: The study of dynamical large deviations allows for a characterization of stationary states of lattice gas models out of equilibrium conditioned on averages of dynamical observables. The application of this framework to the two-dimensional random walk conditioned on partial currents reveals the existence of a dynamical phase transition between delocalized band dynamics and localized vortex dynamics. We present a numerical microscopic characterization of the phases involved, and provide analytical insight based on the macroscopic fluctuation theory. A spectral analysis of the microscopic generator shows that the continuous phase transition is accompanied by spontaneous $\mathbb{Z}_2$-symmetry breaking whereby the stationary solution loses the reflection symmetry of the generator. Dynamical phase transitions similar to this one, which do not rely on exclusion effects or interactions, are likely to be observed in more complex non-equilibrium physics models.