Eur. Phys. J. B 84, 323-329 (2011)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2011-20802-9

Regular Article

The role of soft versus hard bistable systems on stochastic resonance using average cycle energy as a quantifier

Institute of Physics, Sachivalaya Marg, 751005 Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

^a e-mail: lahiri@iopb.res.in

Received: 30 September 2011
Received in final form: 15 October 2011
Published online: 10 November 2011

Abstract

Using the input energy per cycle as a quantifier of stochastic resonance (SR), we show that SR is observed in superharmonic (hard) potentials. However, it is not observed in subharmonic (soft) potentials, even though the potential is bistable. These results are consistent with recent observations based on amplitude of average position as a quantifier. In both soft and hard potentials, we observe resonance phenomenon as a function of the driving frequency. The nature of probability distributions of average work are qualitatively different for soft and hard potentials.