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    Memory-driven anomalous transport and reactions in comblike media: A unified framework for non-Markovian convection, subdiffusion, and ergodicity breaking

    Guitian He1,*, Zichao Yang1, Maokang Luo2, and YangQuan Chen3,†

    • 1School of Mathematical Sciences, Center for Applied Mathematics of Guangxi, Guangxi Minzu University, Nanning 530006, China
    • 2School of Mathematics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China
    • 3Department of Mechanical Engineering (MESA Lab), University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA

    • *Present address: Guangxi Colleges and Universities Engineering Research Center, Guangxi Minzu University, Nanning 530006, China.
    • †Contact author: ychen53@ucmerced.edu

    Phys. Rev. E 114, 014151 – Published 30 July, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/9r47-5vqk

    Abstract

    We introduce a generalized comb geometry based on a continuous-time random walk that unifies longitudinal advection, transverse trapping, and reversible reactions with temporal memory. By deriving macroscopic evolution equations from this microscopic stochastic process, we establish a direct link between waiting-time statistics and three distinct memory functions. Our framework reveals that temporal memory in longitudinal motion drives long-time superdiffusion, whereas memory in transverse exploration leads to subdiffusion. Furthermore, reaction memory governs the exchange between free and reactive populations, leading to algebraic growth of spatial non-Gaussianity in irreversible regimes and a constant non-Gaussian signature in the transverse direction. We find that ergodicity breaking is determined by the slower of two relaxation processes: branch exploration or reaction unbinding. This work bridges single-particle tracking with continuum modeling, uncovering the competition and synergy among distinct memory mechanisms to provide exact analytical benchmarks for reactive transport in disordered media.

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