Stochastic dynamics of two-step processes with harmonic potential

TL;DR

This paper investigates the stochastic behavior of particles under a two-step process involving free evolution and harmonic restoring force, analyzing survival probability and first passage times in various damping environments.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of stochastic renewal processes with harmonic potentials, highlighting the dependence of key quantities on initial conditions and timing.

Findings

Survival probability shows nontrivial dependence on the restart time and initial distribution width.

First passage distribution exhibits complex behavior influenced by damping and initial conditions.

Results provide insights into stochastic processes with two-phase dynamics in harmonic potentials.

Abstract

In this paper we address the one-dimensional problem of stochastic renewal in different damping environments. An ensemble of particles with some specified initial distribution in phase space are allowed to evolve stochastically till a certain instant of time (say,$tau$), when a restoring force is applied to bring them back to some point in configuration space. The physical quantities of interest that have been studied are the Survival Probability and the First Passage distribution for return to the specified target point. We observe nontrivial dependence of these quantities on $tau$ as well as on the width of the initial distribution, which has been taken to be Gaussian in position and velocity.