title: Linear response to perturbation of nonexponential renewal process: A generalized master equation approach.
abstract: The work by Barbi, Bologna, and Grigolini [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 220601 (2005)] discusses a response to alternating external field of a non-Markovian two-state system, where the waiting time between the two attempted changes of state follows a power law. It introduced a new instrument for description of such situations based on a stochastic master equation with reset. In the present Brief Report we provide an alternative description of the situation within the framework of a generalized master equation. The results of our analytical approach are corroborated by direct numerical simulations of the system.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstrasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sokolov