Dykman, Mark and Luchinsky, D. G. and McClintock, Peter V. E. and Smelyanskiy, V. N. (1996) Corrals and critical behavior of the distribution of fluctuational paths. Physical review letters, 77 (26). pp. 5229-5232. ISSN 1079-7114
Abstract
We investigate, theoretically and by analog experiment, the distribution of paths for large fluctuations away from a stable state. We have found critical broadening of the distribution of the paths coming to a cusp point that represents the simplest generic singularity in the pattern of most probable (optimal) fluctuational paths in nonequilibrium systems. The critical behavior can be described by a Landau-type theory. We predict and observe two-ridged distributions for arrivals on a switching line that separates the areas reached along optimal paths of different types.