Diffusing up the Hill: Dynamics and Equipartition in Highly Unstable Systems.

摘要: Stochastic motion of particles in a highly unstable potential generates number diverging trajectories leading to undefined statistical moments the particle position. This makes experiments challenging and breaks down standard analysis mechanical processes their applications. A newly proposed approach takes advantage local characteristics most probable instead divergent averages. We experimentally verify its theoretical predictions for Brownian moving near an inflection cubic optical potential. The likely position atypically shifts against force, despite opposite direction. uncertainty around saturates even strong diffusion enables well-resolved detection. Remarkably, measured distribution quickly converges quasistationary one with same atypical shift different initial positions. demonstrated experimental confirmation approves utility systems which can be exploited thermodynamic uncover energetics systems.