Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.111, No.17, 7748-7757, 1999
Variational nonequilibrium thermodynamics of reaction-diffusion systems. II. Path integrals, large fluctuations, and rate constants
We consider reaction-diffusion systems that can be out of equilibrium. In the preceding article a path integral formation of the Hamilton-Jacobi approximation of the Master equation of such systems. Using this path integral formulation, it is possible to calculate rate constants for the transition from one well to another well of the information potential and to give estimates of mean exit times.