Paths of fluctuation induced switching.
We demonstrate that the paths followed by a system in fluctuation-activated switching form a narrow tube in phase space. A theory of the path distribution is developed and its direct measurement is performed in a micromechanical oscillator. The experimental and theoretical results are in excellent agreement, with no adjustable parameters. We also demonstrate the lack of time-reversal symmetry in switching of systems far from thermal equilibrium.
Chan
H B
HB
Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
Dykman
M I
MI
Stambaugh
C
C
D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013816:Thermodynamics