Observable and hidden singular features of large fluctuations in nonequilibrium systems
Condensed Matter
2009-10-22 v1
Abstract
We study local features, and provide a topological insight into the global structure of the probability density distribution and of the pattern of the optimal paths for large rare fluctuations away from a stable state. In contrast to extremal paths in quantum mechanics, the optimal paths do {\it not} encounter caustics. We show how this occurs, and what, instead of caustics, are the experimentally observable singularities of the pattern. We reveal the possibility for a caustic and a switching line to start at a saddle point, and discuss the consequences.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9410056,
title = {Observable and hidden singular features of large fluctuations in nonequilibrium systems},
author = {Mark I. Dykman and Mark M. Millonas and Vadim N. Smelyanskiy},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9410056},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
10 pages, 3 ps figures by request, LaTeX Article Format (In press, Phys. Lett. A)