Small mass asymptotic for the motion with vanishing friction

We consider the small mass asymptotic (Smoluchowski-Kramers approximation) for the Langevin equation with a variable friction coefficient. The friction coefficient is assumed to be vanishing within certain region. We introduce a regularization for this problem and study the limiting motion for the 1-dimensional case and a multidimensional model problem. The limiting motion is a Markov process on a projected space. We specify the generator and boundary condition of this limiting Markov process and prove the convergence.Comment: final version for publication, accepted by Stochastic Processes and their Application

On diffusion in narrow random channels

We consider in this paper a solvable model for the motion of molecular motors. Based on the averaging principle, we reduce the problem to a diffusion process on a graph. We then calculate the effective speed of transportation of these motors.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, comments are welcom

On second order elliptic equations with a small parameter

The Neumann problem with a small parameter $$(\dfrac{1}{\epsilon}L_0+L_1)u^\epsilon(x)=f(x) \text{for} x\in G, .\dfrac{\partial u^\epsilon}{\partial \gamma^\epsilon}(x)|_{\partial G}=0$$ is considered in this paper. The operators $L_0$ and $L_1$ are self-adjoint second order operators. We assume that $L_0$ has a non-negative characteristic form and $L_1$ is strictly elliptic. The reflection is with respect to inward co-normal unit vector $\gamma^\epsilon(x)$. The behavior of $\lim\limits_{\epsilon\downarrow 0}u^\epsilon(x)$ is effectively described via the solution of an ordinary differential equation on a tree. We calculate the differential operators inside the edges of this tree and the gluing condition at the root. Our approach is based on an analysis of the corresponding diffusion processes.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figure, revised versio