A phase transition for competition interfaces (Q1009488)

The paper treats an exactly solvable model of growing random sets \(\Gamma_t\) (occupied at time \(t\geq 0\)) in \(\mathbb{Z}^2\), which is associated to directed last-passage percolation. The initial unoccupied set, including the positive quadrant, is assumed approximately a cone (in \(\mathbb{R}^2\)) with apex at \((0,0)\) and of angle \(\theta\), so that its boundary \(\gamma_0=\partial \Gamma_0\) has two branches with asymptotic North-West and South-East directions cutting the cone. The newly occupied sites at rate \(1\) typically join one of the two clusters adherent to \(\gamma_0\) branches. It is established that the ``competition'' interface between these growing clusters has a limiting direction a.s. If \(180^{\circ} \leq \theta\leq 270^{\circ}\) it is deterministic, being random for \(\theta < 180^{\circ}\), and in certain cases its distribution is found (cf. \textit{B. Derrida} and \textit{R. Dickman}'s [J. Phys. A 24, No. 1, L191--L195 (1991)] analysis of \(1\)-st passage percolation model). Some results on fluctuations of that interface around its asymptotic direction are obtained as well. This study was motivated by the relation between the evolution of the competition interface and the behavior of the ``second-class'' particle in the one-dimensional totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP), due to the coupling between the growing boundary \(\gamma_t\) and TASEP, considered for \(\theta =90^{\circ}\) by \textit{P. A. Ferrari} and \textit{L. P. R. Pimentel} [Ann. Probab. 33, 1235--1254 (2005; Zbl 1078.60083)]. It is shown how the limit result for the competition interface corresponds to a SLLN for the position of the second-class particle.