Limit distributions for KPZ growth models with spatially homogeneous random initial conditions

Abstract

For stationary KPZ growth in $1+1$ dimensions, the height fluctuations are governed by the Baik–Rains distribution. Using the totally asymmetric single step growth model, alias TASEP, we investigate height fluctuations for a general class of spatially homogeneous random initial conditions. We prove that for TASEP there is a one-parameter family of limit distributions, labeled by the diffusion coefficient of the initial conditions. The distributions are defined through a variational formula. We use Monte Carlo simulations to obtain their numerical plots. Also discussed is the connection to the six-vertex model at its conical point.