Vehicular Traffic: A System of Interacting Particles Driven Far From Equilibrium

Abstract

In recent years statistical physicists have developed {\it discrete} "particle-hopping" models of vehicular traffic, usually formulated in terms of {\it cellular automata}, which are similar to the microscopic models of interacting charged particles in the presence of an external electric field. Concepts and techniques of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics are being used to understand the nature of the steady states and fluctuations in these so-called "microscopic" models. In this brief review we explain, primarily to the nonexperts, these models and the physical implications of the results.

REVTEX, 9 eps figures included; a review, for non-specialists, which has appeared in the Special Section on "Non-equilibrium Statistical Systems" (guest editor: Mustansir Barma) in Current Science (Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore)