https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-31146-9
Regular Article
Distributions of first passage times in a bistable thermochemical system with a low temperature stationary state
1
Institute of Chemistry, Jan Kochanowski University,
Swiȩtokrzyska 15G, 25-406
Kielce,
Poland
2
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Kasprzaka
44/52, 01-224
Warsaw,
Poland
3
Physics Laboratory, Warsaw University of Life Sciences –
SGGW, Nowoursynowska
159, 02-776
Warsaw,
Poland
a
e-mail: anna.kolbus@ujk.edu.pl
Received:
20
December
2012
Received in final form:
24
March
2013
Published online:
12
June
2013
We consider the influence of internal fluctuations on the behavior of a bistable thermochemical system with a low temperature stable focus surrounded by a stable limit cycle arising from the subcritical Hopf bifurcation. We use a master equation approach to study the transitions between basins of these attractors. Distribution functions of first passage times from the limit cycle to the focus are obtained for systems with various numbers of molecules and reaction heats. We consider in detail the specific, multi-peak form of the distributions caused by eccentric location of the limit cycles with respect to the focus.
Key words: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag, 2013