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Effect of focusing and caustics on exit phenomena in systems lacking detailed balance

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States) Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States)
We study the trajectories followed by a particle weakly perturbed by noise, when escaping from the domain of attraction of a stable fixed point. If the particle's stationary distribution lacks detailed balance, a [ital focus] may occur along the most probable exit path, leading to a breakdown of symmetry (if present). The exit trajectory bifurcates, and the exit location distribution may become skewed'' (non-Gaussian). The weak-noise asymptotics of the mean escape time are also affected. Our methods extend to the study of skewed exit location distributions in stochastic models without symmetry.
DOE Contract Number:
FG03-93ER25155
OSTI ID:
6200847
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 71:12; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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