Abstract

We study the dynamics of classical particles in different classes of spatially extended self-similar systems, consisting of (i) a self-similar Lorentz billiard channel, (ii) a self-similar graph, and (iii) a master equation. In all three systems, the particles typically drift at constant velocity and spread ballistically. These transport properties are analyzed in terms of the spectral properties of the operator evolving the probability densities. For systems (i) and (ii), we explain the drift from the properties of the Pollicott-Ruelle resonance spectrum and corresponding eigenvectors. © 2006 The American Physical Society.