https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2011-20372-x
Gaussian models for the distribution of Brownian particles in tilted periodic potentials
The limit of high barriers
1
Radiophysics Department, Nizhni Novgorod State University, Nizhni Novgorod, Russia
2
Dipartimento di Fisica, Group of Interdisciplinary Physics and CNISM, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze pad. 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Corresponding author: a bernardo.spagnolo@unipa.it
Received:
15
May
2011
Revised:
11
August
2011
Published online:
23
September
2011
We present two Gaussian approximations for the time-dependent probability density function (PDF) of an overdamped Brownian particle moving in a tilted periodic potential. We assume high potential barriers in comparison with the noise intensity. The accuracy of the proposed approximated expressions for the time-dependent PDF is checked with numerical simulations of the Langevin dynamics. We found a quite good agreement between theoretical and numerical results at all times.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2011