Decay rate with coordinate-dependent diffusion coefficients

Using a master equation for the reduced density matrix of open quantum system, the influence of coordinate-dependent microscopical diffusion coefficients on the decay rate from a potential well is studied. For different temperatures, frictions, heights of barrier and ratios of stiffnesses of the potential in the minimum and on the top of the barrier, the quasistationary decay rates are obtained with the sets of coordinate-dependent and -independent microscopical diffusion coefficients, and coordinate-dependent phenomenological diffusion coefficients. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.