Probabilistic Traffic Flow Breakdown In Stochastic Car Following Models
D. Jost, K. Nagel
Dominic Jost and Kai Nagel
Date: 9 November 2003
Although the gas-liquid analogy to traffic models has been widely
discussed, no traffic-related model so far displayed a completely
understood stochastic version of that transition. Having a
stochastic model is important to understand the potentially
probabilistic nature of the transition. Most importantly, if indeed
models with spontaneous phase separation describe certain aspects
correctly, then this leads to an understanding of spontaneous
breakdown. Alternatively, if models without spontaneous phase
separation describe these aspects better, then there is no spontaneous
breakdown ( no breakdown without a reason). Interestingly, even
models without spontaneous phase separation can still allow for jam
formation on small scales, which may give the impression of having a
model with spontaneous phase separation.
Keywords: traffic flow theory, car following models, traffic
breakdown, traffic simulation, phase transition, phase separation,
critical point