We consider systems of particles hopping stochastically on d-dimensional lattices with space-dependent probabilities. We map the master equation onto an evolution equation in a Fock space where the dynamics are given by a quantum Hamiltonian (continuous time) or a transfer matrix (discrete time). Using non-Abelian symmetries of these operators we derive duality relations, expressing the time evolution of a given initial configuration in terms of correlation functions of simpler dual processes. Particularly simple results are obtained for the time evolution of the density profile. As a special case we show that for any SU(2) symmetric system the two-point and three-point density correlation functions in the N-particle steady state can be computed from the probability distribution of a single particle moving in the same environment. We apply our results to various models, among them partial exclusion, a simple diffusion-reaction system, and the two-dimensional six-vertex model with space-dependent vertex weights. For a random distribution of the vertex weights one obtains a version of the random-barrier model describing diffusion of particles in disordered media. We derive exact expressions for the averaged two-point density correlation functions in the presence of weak, correlated disorder.

• Received 2 August 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.2726