title: Generalized survival in equilibrium step fluctuations.
abstract: We investigate the dynamics of a generalized survival probability S(t,R) defined with respect to an arbitrary reference level R (rather than the average) in equilibrium step fluctuations. The exponential decay at large time scales of the generalized survival probability is numerically analyzed. S(t,R) is shown to exhibit simple scaling behavior as a function of system size L, sampling time deltat, and the reference level R. The generalized survival time scale tau(s) (R) associated with S(t,R) is shown to decay exponentially as a function of R.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4111, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.forename: S Das
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sarma
mesh_terms: D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D015233:Models, Statistical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013997:Time Factors