Multimodal stationary states under Cauchy noise

A L\'evy noise is an efficient description of out-of-equilibrium systems. The presence of L\'evy flights results in a plenitude of noise-induced phenomena. Among others, L\'evy flights can produce stationary states with more than one modal value in single-well potentials. Here, we explore stationary states in special double-well potentials demonstrating that a sufficiently high potential barrier separating potential wells can produce bimodal stationary states in each potential well. Furthermore, we explore how the decrease in the barrier height affects the multimodality of stationary states. Finally, we explore a role of the multimodality of stationary states on the noise induced escape over the static potential barrier.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Deterministic force-free resonant activation

Combined action of noise and deterministic force in dynamical systems can induce resonant effects. Here, we demonstrate a minimal, deterministic-force-free, setup allowing for occurrence of resonant, noise induced effects. We show that in the archetypal problem of escape from finite intervals driven by $\alpha$-stale noise with the periodically modulated stability index, depending on the initial direction of the modulation, resonant-activation-like or noise-enhanced-stability-like phenomena can be observed.Comment: 8 page

Underdamped, anomalous kinetics in double-well potentials

The noise driven motion in a bistable potential acts as the archetypal model of various physical phenomena. Here, we contrast the overdamped dynamics with the full (underdamped) dynamics. For the overdamped particle driven by a non-equilibrium, $\alpha$-stable noise the ratio of forward and backward transition rates depends only on the width of a potential barrier separating both minima. Using analytical and numerical methods, we show that in the regime of full dynamics, contrary to the overdamped case, the ratio of transition rates depends both on widths and heights of the potential barrier. The analytical formula for the ratio of transition rates is corroborated by extensive numerical simulations.Comment: 9 page

Drifted escape from the finite interval

Properties of the noise-driven escape kinetics are mainly determined by the stochastic component of the system dynamics. Nevertheless, the escape dynamics is also sensitive to deterministic forces. Here, we are exploring properties of the overdamped drifted escape from finite intervals under the action of symmetric $\alpha$-stable noises. We show that the properly rescaled mean first passage time follows the universal pattern as a function of the generalized P\'ecklet number, which can be used to efficiently discriminate between domains where drift or random force dominate. Stochastic driving of the $\alpha$-stable type is capable of diminishing the significance of the drift in the regime when the drift prevails.Comment: 8 page

Random acceleration process on finite intervals under stochastic restarting

The escape of the randomly accelerated undamped particle from the finite interval under action of stochastic resetting is studied. The motion of such a particle is described by the full Langevin equation and the particle is characterized by the position and velocity. We compare three resetting protocols, which restarts velocity or position (partial resetting) and the whole motion (position and velocity -- full resetting). Using the mean first passage time we assess efficiency of restarting protocols in facilitating or suppressing the escape kinetics. There are fundamental differences between partial resetting scenarios which restart velocity or position, as in the limit of very frequent resets only the position resetting (regardless of initial velocity) can trap the particle in the finite domain of motion. The velocity resetting or the simultaneous position and velocity restarting provide a possibility of facilitating the undamped escape kinetics.Comment: 23 page

Multimodal stationary states in symmetric single-well potentials driven by Cauchy noise

Stationary states for a particle moving in a single-well, steeper than parabolic, potential driven by L\'evy noise can be bi-modal. Here, we explore in details conditions that are required in order to induce multimodal stationary states having more than two modal values. Phenomenological arguments determining necessary conditions for emergence of stationary states of higher multimodality are provided. Basing on these arguments, appropriate symmetric single-well potentials are constructed. Finally, using numerical methods it is verified that stationary states have anticipated multimodality.Comment: 15 pages 10 figure

Optimization of escape kinetics by reflecting and resetting

Stochastic restarting is a strategy of starting anew. Incorporation of the resetting to the random walks can result in the decrease of the mean first passage time, due to the ability to limit unfavorably meandering, sub-optimal trajectories. In the following manuscript we examine how stochastic resetting influences escape dynamics from the $(-\infty,1)$ interval in the presence of the single-well power-law $|x|^\kappa$ potentials with $\kappa>0$. Examination of the mean first passage time is complemented by the analysis of the coefficient of variation, which provides a robust and reliable indicator assessing efficiency of stochastic resetting. The restrictive nature of resetting is compared to placing a reflective boundary in the system at hand. In particular, for each potential, the position of the reflecting barrier giving the same mean first passage time as the optimal resetting rate is determined. Finally, in addition to reflecting, we compare effectiveness of other resetting strategies with respect to optimization of the mean first passage time.Comment: 7 page

Physics of free climbing

Theory of stochastic processes provides theoretical tools which can be efficiently used to explore properties of noise induced escape kinetics. Since noise facilitated escape over the potential barrier resembles free climbing, one can use the first passage time theory in analysis of rock climbing. We perform the analysis of the mean first passage time in order to answer the question regarding the optimal, i.e., resulting in the fastest climbing, rope length. It is demonstrated that there is a discrete set of favorable rope lengths assuring shortest climbing times, as they correspond to local minima of mean first passage time. Within the set of favorable rope lengths there is the optimal rope giving rise to the shortest climbing time. In particular, more experienced climbers can decrease their climbing time by using longer ropes.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Epidemics spread in heterogeneous populations

Individuals building populations are subject to variability. This variability affects progress of epidemic outbreaks, because individuals tend to be more or less resistant. Individuals also differ with respect to their recovery rate. Here, properties of the SIR model in inhomogeneous populations are studied. It is shown that a small change in model’s parameters, e.g. recovery or infection rate, can substantially change properties of final states which is especially well-visible in distributions of the epidemic size. In addition to the epidemic size and radii distributions, the paper explores first passage time properties of epidemic outbreaks

Nonlinear friction in underdamped anharmonic stochastic oscillators

Stationary states of overdamped anharmonic stochastic oscillators driven by L\'evy noise are typically multimodal. The very same situation is recorded for an underdamped L\'evy noise driven motion in single-well potentials with linear friction. Within current manuscript we relax the assumption that the friction experienced by a particle is linear. Using computer simulations, we study underdamped motion in single-well potentials in the regime of nonlinear friction. We demonstrate that it is relatively easy to observe multimodality in the velocity distribution as it is determined by the friction itself and it is the same as the multimodality in the overdamped case with the analogous deterministic force. Contrary to the velocity marginal density, it is more difficult to produce multimodality in the position. Nevertheless, for fine-tuned nonlinear friction, the spatial multimodality can be recorded.Comment: 10 page