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Title: Semiclassical theory of underdamped nonlinear Brownian processes

Journal Article · · Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States)

In the limit of weak noise, the conditional probabilities of damped, noise-driven anharmonic oscillator can be expressed (at least formally) in terms of solutions to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (''Onsager--Machlup'' equation) of fourth order in the time derivative. In the case of a one-dimensional oscillator, this equation is recast in the form of a mapping; and in the limit of long time and weak time-independent friction, it is shown how to reduce the iteration of this map to quadratures. This procedure is checked by using it to reproduce a number of standard results usually derived in other ways. In connection with the statistical mechanics, of electron--positron colliding-beam storage rings, and attempt is also made to apply this mapping formalism to the case of weak, periodically time-dependent friction. When no frequency in the Fourier decomposition of the friction coefficient is close to an (even, for symmetric potentials) integral multiple of the (amplitude-dependent) frequency of the oscillator, then results can be derived that parallel those obtained in the case of constant friction. Otherwise (''thermal resonance'') the situation is not clear.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, P.O. Box 500, Batavia, Illinois 60510
OSTI ID:
5668603
Journal Information:
Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 160:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English