Phase Transitions in Two-Dimensional Traffic Flow Models

Abstract

We introduce two simple two-dimensional lattice models to study traffic flow in cities. We have found that a few basic elements give rise to the characteristic phase diagram of a first-order phase transition from a freely moving phase to a jammed state, with a critical point. The jammed phase presents new transitions corresponding to structural transformations of the jam. We discuss their relevance in the infinite size limit.

RevTeX 3.0 file. Figures available upon request to e-address [email protected] (or 'dopico' or 'molera' or 'anxo', same node)