Abstract
We investigate the escape behavior of systems governed by the one-dimensional nonlinear diffusion equation where the potential of the drift, presents a double well and are real parameters. For systems close to the steady state, we obtain an analytical expression of the mean first-passage time, yielding a generalization of Arrhenius law. Analytical predictions are in very good agreement with numerical experiments performed through integration of the associated Ito-Langevin equation. For important anomalies are detected in comparison to the standard Brownian case. These results are compared to those obtained numerically for initial conditions far from the steady state.
- Received 1 August 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.63.051109
©2001 American Physical Society