Escape rate of a dimer under the influence of additive colored noise: Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process

The escape process of a dimer is studied in a bistable potential in the presence of additive Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) noise. The escape rate of the dimer shows a non-monotonic dependence with respect to the harmonic spring constant, kappa. However, an increase in the correlation time, tau of the OU noise causes a delay in the escape mechanism of the dimer. Another important observation is that the optimal spring constant, k(opt), at which the escape rate peaks changes with the correlation time. In summary, a complex interplay between the harmonic force and the correlation time of the OU noise is involved in the escape process of the dimer.