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.
Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
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Chan
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Dykman
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Stambaugh
D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013816:Thermodynamics