Conditional probabilities in multiplicative noise processes

Abstract

We address the calculation of transition probabilities in multiplicative noise stochastic differential equations using a path integral approach. We show the equivalence between the conditional probability and the propagator of a quantum particle with variable mass. Introducing a {\em time reparametrization}, we are able to transform the problem of multiplicative noise fluctuations into an equivalent additive one. We illustrate the method by showing the explicit analytic computation of the conditional probability of a harmonic oscillator in a nonlinear multiplicative environment.

12 pages, 4 figures. Final version accepted for publication in Physical Review E