While the standard approach to fluctuations in mesoscopic and molecular systems assumes Gaussian fluctuations of the state variables, more recently deviations from Gaussian noise have attracted widespread interest. This development is motivated by the fact that deviations from Gaussian noise � encoded in higher order noise cumulants �  provide valuable information about the microscopic processes causing the fluctuations. An important question in this context is how the standard theory of thermally activated escape from a metastable potential well is modified when the system is driven by non-Gaussian noise. The talk will address this issue and present results on escape rates in presence of a Poissonian noise component in addition to standard Gaussian noise. In particular, the modification of the rate of escape by a finite third noise cumulant will be clarified.

Rates of reactions activated by non-Gaussian noise

240th National Meeting (2010)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.