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Yong-Ju Baek

Seoul National University · Physics and Astronomy

About the Lab

Professor Yong-Ju Baek's research lab specializes in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, with a focus on stochastic processes, phase transitions, and large deviation theory in driven systems. The lab investigates current fluctuations, singularities in large deviation functions, and non-equilibrium dynamics in systems ranging from active matter and complex networks to social contagion and transport in random networks. A central theme is the emergence of collective phenomena—such as long-range interactions, synchronization, and phase coexistence—due to correlations, symmetry breaking, or network topology. The lab combines analytical methods, mean-field theories, and numerical simulations to uncover universal principles governing non-equilibrium systems.

nonequilibrium statistical mechanicslarge deviation theoryphase transitionsactive mattercomplex networks

Research Overview

Papers
43
Total Citations
405
Papers (5y)
23
Primary Field
Physics and Astronomy

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
23total
2019
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
48total
20192023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|94 citations·2017
Dynamical Symmetry Breaking and Phase Transitions in Driven Diffusive Systems
Yongjoo Baek, Yariv Kafri, Vivien Lecomte
SJR Q1Physical Review LettersOA

We study the probability distribution of a current flowing through a diffusive system connected to a pair of reservoirs at its two ends. Sufficient conditions for the occurrence of a host of possible phase transitions both in and out of equilibrium are derived. These transitions manifest themselves as singularities in the large deviation function, resulting in enhanced current fluctuations. Microscopic models which implement each of the scenarios are presented, with possible experimental realiza

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
2
Article|85 citations·2018
Generic Long-Range Interactions Between Passive Bodies in an Active Fluid
Yongjoo Baek, Alexandre Solon, Xinpeng Xu, Nikolai Nikola, Yariv Kafri
SJR Q1Physical Review LettersOA

A single nonspherical body placed in an active fluid generates currents via breaking of time-reversal symmetry. We show that, when two or more passive bodies are placed in an active fluid, these currents lead to long-range interactions. Using a multipole expansion, we characterize their leading-order behaviors in terms of single-body properties and show that they decay as a power law with the distance between the bodies, are anisotropic, and do not obey an action-reaction principle. The interact

Condensed Matter PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
3
Article|58 citations·2015
Singularities in large deviation functions
Yongjoo Baek, Yariv Kafri
SJR Q3Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and ExperimentOA

Large deviation functions of configurations exhibit very different behaviors in and out of thermal equilibrium. In particular, they exhibit singularities in a broad range of non-equilibrium models, which are absent in equilibrium. These singularities were first identified in finite-dimensional systems in the weak-noise limit. Recent studies have shown that they are also present in driven diffusive systems with an infinite-dimensional configuration space. This short review describes singularities

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
4
Article|39 citations·2014
Generalized epidemic process on modular networks
Kihong Chung, Yongjoo Baek, Daniel Kim, Meesoon Ha, Hawoong Jeong
SJR Q2Physical Review EOA

Social reinforcement and modular structure are two salient features observed in the spreading of behavior through social contacts. In order to investigate the interplay between these two features, we study the generalized epidemic process on modular networks with equal-sized finite communities and adjustable modularity. Using the analytical approach originally applied to clique-based random networks, we show that the system exhibits a bond-percolation type continuous phase transition for weak so

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
5
Article|14 citations·2014
Effects of junctional correlations in the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process on random regular networks
Yongjoo Baek, Meesoon Ha, Hawoong Jeong
SJR Q2Physical Review EOA

We investigate the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process on closed and directed random regular networks, which is a simple model of active transport in the one-dimensional segments coupled by junctions. By a pair mean-field theory and detailed numerical analyses, it is found that the correlations at junctions induce two notable deviations from the simple mean-field theory, which neglects these correlations: (1) the narrower range of particle density for phase coexistence and (2) the algebr

Mathematical PhysicsMathematics
6
Article|13 citations·2024
Unified hierarchical relationship between thermodynamic tradeoff relations
Euijoon Kwon, Jong-Min Park, Jae Sung Lee, Yongjoo Baek
SJR Q2Physical review. E

Recent years have witnessed a surge of discoveries in the studies of thermodynamic inequalities: the thermodynamic uncertainty relation (TUR) and the entropic bound (EB) provide a lower bound on the entropy production (EP) in terms of nonequilibrium currents; the classical speed limit (CSL) expresses the lower bound on the EP using the geometry of probability distributions; the power-efficiency (PE) tradeoff dictates the maximum power achievable for a heat engine given the level of its thermal e

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
7
Article|12 citations·2013
Impact of sequential disorder on the scaling behavior of airplane boarding time
Yongjoo Baek, Meesoon Ha, Hawoong Jeong
SJR Q2Physical Review EOA

Airplane boarding process is an example where disorder properties of the system are relevant to the emergence of universality classes. Based on a simple model, we present a systematic analysis of finite-size effects in boarding time, and propose a comprehensive view of the role of sequential disorder in the scaling behavior of boarding time against the plane size. Using numerical simulations and mathematical arguments, we find how the scaling behavior depends on the number of seat columns and th

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
8
Article|10 citations·2016
Extreme current fluctuations of boundary-driven systems in the large-Nlimit
Yongjoo Baek, Yariv Kafri, Vivien Lecomte
SJR Q3Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and ExperimentOA

Current fluctuations in boundary-driven diffusive systems are, in many cases, studied using hydrodynamic theories. Their predictions are then expected to be valid for currents which scale inversely with the system size. To study this question in detail, we introduce a class of large-N models of one-dimensional boundary-driven diffusive systems, whose current large deviation functions are exactly derivable for any finite number of sites. Surprisingly, we find that for some systems the predictions

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
9
Article|9 citations·2012
Absorbing states of zero-temperature Glauber dynamics in random networks
Yongjoo Baek, Meesoon Ha, Hawoong Jeong
SJR Q2Physical Review EOA

We study zero-temperature Glauber dynamics for Ising-like spin variable models in quenched random networks with random zero-magnetization initial conditions. In particular, we focus on the absorbing states of finite systems. While it has quite often been observed that Glauber dynamics lets the system be stuck into an absorbing state distinct from its ground state in the thermodynamic limit, very little is known about the likelihood of each absorbing state. In order to explore the variety of abso

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
10
Article|9 citations·2019
Finite-size and finite-time effects in large deviation functions near dynamical symmetry breaking transitions
Yongjoo Baek, Yariv Kafri, Vivien Lecomte
SJR Q3Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and ExperimentOA

Abstract We introduce and study a class of particle hopping models consisting of a single box coupled to a pair of reservoirs. Despite being zero-dimensional, in the limit of large particle number and long observation time, the current and activity large deviation functions of the models can exhibit symmetry-breaking dynamical phase transitions. We characterize exactly the critical properties of these transitions, showing them to be direct analogues of previously studied phase transitions in ext

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
11
Article|8 citations·2012
Fundamental Structural Constraint of Random Scale-Free Networks
Yongjoo Baek, Daniel Kim, Meesoon Ha, Hawoong Jeong
SJR Q1Physical Review LettersOA

We study the structural constraint of random scale-free networks that determines possible combinations of the degree exponent γ and the upper cutoff k(c) in the thermodynamic limit. We employ the framework of graphicality transitions proposed by Del Genio and co-workers [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 178701 (2011)], while making it more rigorous and applicable to general values of k(c). Using the graphicality criterion, we show that the upper cutoff must be lower than k(c)∼N(1/γ) for γ<2, whereas any up

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
12
Article|7 citations·2010
Market behavior and performance of different strategy evaluation schemes
Yongjoo Baek, Sang Hoon Lee, Hawoong Jeong
SJR Q2Physical Review EOA

Strategy evaluation schemes are a crucial factor in any agent-based market model, as they determine the agents' strategy preferences and consequently their behavioral pattern. This study investigates how the strategy evaluation schemes adopted by agents affect their performance in conjunction with the market circumstances. We observe the performance of three strategy evaluation schemes, the history-dependent wealth game, the trend-opposing minority game, and the trend-following majority game, in

Economics and EconometricsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance
13
Article|4 citations·2019
Role of hubs in the synergistic spread of behavior
Yongjoo Baek, Kihong Chung, Meesoon Ha, Hawoong Jeong, Daniel Kim
SJR Q2Physical review. EOA

The spread of behavior in a society has two major features: the synergy of multiple spreaders and the dominance of hubs. While strong synergy is known to induce mixed-order transitions (MOTs) at percolation, the effects of hubs on the phenomena are yet to be clarified. By analytically solving the generalized epidemic process on random scale-free networks with the power-law degree distribution p_{k}∼k^{-α}, we clarify how the dominance of hubs in social networks affects the conditions for MOTs. O

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
14
Article|2 citations·2024
Dynamics of self-propelled particles in vibrated dense granular media
Kyungmin Son, Yunsik Choe, Euijoon Kwon, Leonardo Garibaldi Rigon, Yongjoo Baek, Ho‐Young Kim
SJR Q2Soft MatterOA

We study the motion of self-propelled particles (SPPs) among vibrated granular particles within a circular confinement. A single SPP follows a fractal renewal process, while a small number of SPPs creates a motile boundary cluster.

Condensed Matter PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy
15
Article|1 citations·2023
Markovian description of active particles driven by colored noise
Yongjoo Baek
SJR Q3Journal of the Korean Physical Society
Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy

Research Areas

Statistical and Nonlinear PhysicsCondensed Matter PhysicsComputer Networks and CommunicationsMathematical PhysicsEconomics and EconometricsAtomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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