Structure formation in a conserved mass model of a set of individuals interacting with attractive and repulsive forces.

We study a set of interacting individuals that conserve their total mass. In order to describe its dynamics we resort to mesoscopic equations of reaction diffusion including currents driven by attractive and repulsive forces. For the mass conservation we consider a linear response parameter that maintains the mass in the vicinity of a optimal value which is determined by the set.

Limiting the stroke of a Schmitt trigger with multiplicative noise.

We have devised an experiment whereby a bistable system is confined away from its deterministic attractors by means of multiplicative noise. Together with previous numerical results, our experimental results validate the hypothesis that the higher the slope of the noise's multiplicative factor, the more it shifts the stationary states.

Cooperation between fluctuations and spatial coupling for two symmetry breakings in a gradient system.

A zero-dimensional system that is affected by field-dependent fluctuations evolves toward the field's values in which the fluctuations' effect is minimized. For a high enough noise intensity, it causes an exchange of roles between the stable and unstable state. In this paper, we report symmetry breaking in two stable states, but one of them stabilized by the fluctuations while exchanging its role with a previously stable state.

Stochastic dissipative solitons.

By the effect of aggregating currents, some systems display an effective diffusion coefficient that becomes negative in a range of the order parameter, giving rise to bistability among homogeneous states (HSs). By applying a proper multiplicative noise, localized (pinning) states are shown to become stable at the expense of one of the HSs. They are, however, not static, but their location fluctuates with a variance that increases with the noise intensity.

Nonequilibrium pattern formation by subdominant attractive forces: a simple model and a stabilization strategy by means of noise.

We introduce a simple model describing a mechanism for transient pattern formation driven by subdominant attractive forces. The patterns can be stabilized if they are confined by means of a particular multiplicative noise into the region where such mechanism is active. The scope of the results appears to transcend the original application context.

Interplay between noise and boundary conditions in pattern formation in adsorbed substances.

We have studied the interplay between noise and boundary conditions on the possibility of noise induced pattern formation. With this aim, we have exploited a deterministic model for pattern formation in adsorbed substances--including the effect of lateral interactions--used to describe the phenomenon of adsorption in surfaces, where a multiplicative noise fulfilling a fluctuation-dissipation relation was added. We have found solutions for different boundary conditions, particularly corresponding to two stable and one unstable patterns, where one of the stable and the unstable one, are purely induced by the multiplicative noise.

Limit cycle induced by multiplicative noise in a system of coupled Brownian motors.

We study a model consisting of N nonlinear oscillators with global periodic coupling, and local multiplicative and additive noises. The model was shown to undergo a nonequilibrium phase transition towards a broken-symmetry phase exhibiting noise-induced "ratchet" behavior. A previous study [H.

Coupling-reentrant phase transition, complex hysteretic behavior, and efficiency optimization in coupled phase oscillators submitted to colored flashing potentials.

A recent mean-field analysis of a model consisting of N nonlinear phase oscillators-under the joint influence of global periodic coupling with strength K0 and of local multiplicative and additive noises-has shown a nonequilibrium phase transition towards a broken-symmetry phase exhibiting noise-induced transport, or "ratchet" behavior. In a previous paper we focused on the relationship between the character of the (mean velocity vs load force F) hysteresis loop, the number of "homogeneous" mean-field solutions, and the shape of the stationary mean-field probability distribution function (PDF). Here we assume that the multiplicative noises of the model are Ornstein-Uhlenbeck with common strength Q and self-correlation time tau.

Transition from anomalous to normal hysteresis in a system of coupled Brownian motors: a mean-field approach.

We address a recently introduced model describing a system of periodically coupled nonlinear phase oscillators submitted to multiplicative white noises, wherein a ratchetlike transport mechanism arises through a symmetry-breaking noise-induced nonequilibrium phase transition. Numerical simulations of this system reveal amazing novel features such as negative zero-bias conductance and anomalous hysteresis, explained by performing a strong-coupling analysis in the thermodynamic limit. Using an explicit mean-field approximation, we explore the whole ordered phase finding a transition from anomalous to normal hysteresis inside this phase, estimating its locus, and identifying (within this scheme) a mechanism whereby it takes place.

Nonequilibrium phase transitions induced by multiplicative noise: effects of self-correlation.

A recently introduced lattice model, describing an extended system which exhibits a reentrant (symmetry-breaking, second-order) noise-induced nonequilibrium phase transition, is studied under the assumption that the multiplicative noise leading to the transition is colored. Within an effective Markovian approximation and a mean-field scheme it is found that when the self-correlation time tau of the noise is different from zero, the transition is also reentrant with respect to the spatial coupling D. In other words, at variance with what one expects for equilibrium phase transitions, a large enough value of D favors disorder.