Abstract
The thermally activated escape of a Brownian particle over an arbitrarily shaped potential barrier is considered. Based on an approximate solution of the corresponding Fokker–Planck equation a rate expression is given. It agrees in the limiting case of high friction with the rate following from the corresponding Smoluchowski equation and, in the limit of weak friction with the rate obtained from transition state theory. For a parabolic barrier the approximate rate expression deviates less than 16% from the known result. The results for cusp shaped and quartic barriers agree with known expressions which have been obtained by other means. Estimates of the rates from numerical simulations are compared with the approximate rate expressions for the cusp and quartic barrier.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
