Dynamic Phase Transition in the Contact Process with Spatial Disorder: Griffths Phase and Complex Persistence Exponents

Abstract: We present a model which displays Griffiths phase i.e. algebraic decay of density with continuously varying exponent in the absorbing phase. In active phase, the memory of initial conditions is lost with continuously varying complex exponent in this model. This is 1-D model where fraction r of sites obey rules leading to directed percolation (DP) class and the rest evolve according to rules leading to compact directed percolation (CDP) class. For infection probability $p < p_c$, the fraction of active sites $\rho(t) = 0$ asymptotically. For $p > p_c$, $\rho(infty) > 0$. At $p = p_c$, $\rho(t)$, the survival probability from single seed and the average number of active sites starting from single seed decay logarithmically. The local persistence $P_l(\infty) > 0$ for $p < p_c$ and $P_l(\infty) = 0$ for $p > p_c$. For $p > p_s$, local persistence $P_l(t)$ decays as a power law with continuously varying exponents. The persistence exponent is clearly complex as $p\rightarrow 1$. The complex exponent implies logarithmic periodic oscillations in persistence. The wavelength and the amplitude of the logarithmic periodic oscillations increases with p. We note that underlying lattice or disorder does not have self-similar structure.