Asymmetry of forward/backward transition times as a non-equilibrium measure of complexity of microscopic mechanisms

Abstract: In one-dimensional random walks, the waiting time for each direction transitions is the same, even in the presence of bias, as a consequence of the microscopic-reversibility. We study the symmetry breaking of forward/ backward transition times in a random walk on a lattice of two lanes. We find that either transition times can be faster depending on the lattice's net current, and the symmetry is recovered only at equilibrium. Our analysis suggests that the forward/ backward transition times' asymmetry can be used as a measure of deviation from the equilibrium of the system.