Fractional diffusion equation description of an open anomalous heat conduction set-up

Abstract: We provide a stochastic fractional diffusion equation description of energy transport through a finite one-dimensional chain of harmonic oscillators with stochastic momentum exchange and connected to Langevian type heat baths at the boundaries. By establishing an unambiguous finite domain representation of the associated fractional operator, we show that this equation can correctly reproduce equilibrium properties like Green-Kubo formula as well as non-equilibrium properties like the steady state temperature and current. In addition, this equation provides the exact time evolution of the temperature profile. Taking insights from the diffusive system and from numerical simulations, we pose a conjecture that these long-range correlations in the steady state are given by the inverse of the fractional operator. We also point out some interesting properties of the spectrum of the fractional operator. All our analytical results are supplemented with extensive numerical simulations of the microscopic system.