Controlling activated processes
arXiv:cond-mat/0108126
Abstract
The rates of activated processes, such as escape from a metastable state and nucleation, are exponentially sensitive to an externally applied field. We describe how this applies to modulation by high-frequency fields and illustrate it with experimental observations. The results may lead to selective control of diffusion in periodic potentials, novel control mechanisms for crystal growth, and new separation techniques.
7 pages, 1 figure