Forward and Backward Governing EQuations for Anomalous Diffusion Models Based on the Continuous Time Random Walk

Peter Straka

Published 2012-12-05, updated 2015-01-03Version 3

Continuous Time Random Walks (CTRWs) are jump processes with random waiting times between jumps. We study scaling limits for CTRWs where the distribution of jumps and waiting times is coupled and varies in space and time. Such processes model e.g. anomalous diffusion processes in a space- and time-dependent potential. Conditions for the process-convergence of CTRWs are given, and the limits are characterised by four coefficients. Kolmogorov forwards and backwards equations with non-local time operators are derived, and three models for anomalous diffusion are presented: i) Subdiffusion in a time-dependent potential, ii) subdiffusion with spatially varying waiting times and iii) L\'evy walks with space- and time-dependent drift.