Uniform expansion of the transition rate in Kramer's problem

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Stat. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014395· OSTI ID:6666272

Matkowsky, B J; Schuss, Z; Tier, C

Kramers' model of diffusion over potential barriers, e.g., chemical reactions, based on the noise activated escape of a particle from a potential well, is considered. Kramers derived escape rates valid for intermediate and large dampling, and in a separate analysis, for small damping. In the small damping limit, Kramers' intermediate result reduces to the transition state rate which does not agree with the small damping result. A new escape rate is derived that is uniformly valid for all values of the damping coefficient. The new rate reduces to Kramers' results in the appropriate limits and, in particular, connects Kramers' intermediate and small damping results.

• Research Organization: Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, The Technological Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-78ER04650
• OSTI ID: 6666272
• Journal Information: J. Stat. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Stat. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 35:2; ISSN JSTPB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657006* -- Theoretical Physics-- Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
DAMPING
DIFFUSION
EQUATIONS
KINETICS
KRAMERS THEOREM
LANGEVIN EQUATION
POTENTIALS
REACTION KINETICS