DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2002-00644-6


Europhys. Lett., 58 (3) , pp. 342-348 (2002)

Rocking bistable systems: Use and abuse of linear response theory

J. Casado-Pascual^{1, 2}, J. Gómez-Ordóñez¹, M. Morillo¹ and P. Hänggi<sup>2

1</sup>  Física Teórica, Universidad de Sevilla - Apartado de Correos 1065 Sevilla 41080, Spain
²  Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg - Universitätsstraße 1 D-86135 Augsburg, Germany

(Received 19 November 2001; accepted in final form 8 February 2002)

Abstract
The response of a nonlinear stochastic system driven by an external sinusoidal time-dependent force is studied by a variety of numerical and analytical approximations. The validity of linear response theory is put to a critical test by comparing its predictions with numerical solutions over an extended parameter regime of driving amplitudes and frequencies. The relevance of the driving frequency for the applicability of linear response theory is explored.

PACS
05.40.-a - Fluctuation phenomena, random processes, noise, and Brownian motion.
05.20.-y - Classical statistical mechanics.
02.50.Ey - Stochastic processes.


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