  In these lectures we give an overview of nonequilibrium stochastic systems.
In particular we discuss in detail two models, the asymmetric exclusion process
and a ballistic reaction model, that illustrate many general features of
nonequilibrium dynamics: for example coarsening dynamics and nonequilibrium
phase transitions. As a secondary theme we shall show how a common mathematical
structure, the q-deformed harmonic oscillator algebra, serves to furnish exact
results for both systems. Thus the lectures also serve as a gentle introduction
to things q-deformed.
