Lifetime of oscillatory steady states

E. Ben-Jacob*, D. J. Bergman, B. J. Matkowsky, Z. Schuss

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

We introduce a method to derive expressions for the distribution of large fluctuations about a stable oscillatory steady state and for the transition rate from that state into another stable state. Our method is based on a WKB-type expansion of the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation. The expression for has a form similar to the Boltzmann distribution with the energy replaced by a function W, which is the solution of a Hamilton-Jacobi-type equation. For the case of small dissipation, a simple analytical approximation to W, in terms of an action increment, is derived. Our results are employed to predict various measurable quantities in physical systems. Specifically we consider the problems of the physical pendulum, the shunted Josephson junction, and the transport of charge-density-wave excitations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2805-2816
Number of pages12
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1982
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lifetime of oscillatory steady states'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this