On the steady state probability distribution of nonequilibrium stochastic systems

摘要

A driven stochastic system in a constant temperature heat bath relaxes into asteady state which is characterized by the steady state probabilitydistribution. We investigate the relationship between the driving force and thesteady state probability distribution. We adopt the force decomposition methodin which the force is decomposed as the sum of a gradient of a steady statepotential and the remaining part. The decomposition method allows one to find aset of force fields each of which is compatible to a given steady state. Such aknowledge provides a useful insight on stochastic systems especially in thenonequilibrium situation. We demonstrate the decomposition method in stochasticsystems under overdamped and underdamped dynamics and discuss the connectionbetween them.