Bulk and surface transitions in asymmetric simple exclusion process: Impact on boundary layers

In this paper, we study the boundary-induced phase transitions in a particle nonconserving asymmetric simple exclusion process with open boundaries. Using a boundary layer analysis on the mean field version of the model, we show that the key signatures of various bulk phase transitions are present in the boundary layers of the density profiles. In addition, we also find surface transitions in the low- and high-density phases. The surface transition in the low-density phase provides a complete description of the nonequilibrium critical point found in this system. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.