https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-025-00488-1
Regular Article - Living Systems
Non-Markovian equilibrium and non-equilibrium barrier-crossing kinetics in asymmetric double-well potentials
Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
Received:
31
December
2024
Accepted:
31
March
2025
Published online:
22
May
2025
Barrier-crossing processes in nature are often non-Markovian and typically occur over an asymmetric double-well free-energy landscape. However, most theories and numerical studies on barrier-crossing rates assume symmetric free-energy profiles. Here, we use a one-dimensional generalized Langevin equation (GLE) to investigate non-Markovian reaction kinetics in asymmetric double-well potentials. We derive a general formula, confirmed by extensive simulations, that accurately predicts mean first-passage times from well to barrier top in an asymmetric double-well potential with arbitrary memory time and reaction coordinate mass. We extend our formalism to non-equilibrium non-Markovian systems, confirming its broad applicability to equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems in biology, chemistry, and physics.
© The Author(s) 2025
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