Asymmetric Random Walk — Drift & Diffusion

An asymmetric (biased) random walk moves right with probability p and left with q=1−p. The drift velocity is v = p−q = 2p−1 and diffusion coefficient D = 4pq. The Fokker-Planck equation gives P(x,t) = Gaussian with mean ⟨x⟩ = vt and variance σ² = 2Dt. First-passage times exhibit exponential tails when drifted away from a boundary.

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Fokker-Planck solution
P(x,t) = 1/√(4πDt) exp(−(x−vt)²/4Dt)
v = p − q = 2p − 1
D = 2pq (in discrete units)
First-passage: γ = v/D (drift ratio)