Nonequilibrium dynamics in low-dimensional systems

In these lectures we give an overview of nonequilibrium stochastic systems. In particular we discuss in detail two models, the asymmetric exclusion process and a ballistic reaction model, that illustrate many general features of nonequilibrium dynamics: for example coarsening dynamics and nonequilibrium phase transitions. As a secondary theme we shall show how a common mathematical structure, the q-deformed harmonic oscillator algebra, serves to furnish exact results for both systems. Thus the lectures also serve as a gentle introduction to things q-deformed.