Stochastic resonance between dissipative structures in a bistable noise-sustained dynamics

PACS number~s!: 05.40.Ca, 05.45.2a, 82.40.CkWe study an extended system that without noise shows a monostable dynamics, but when submitted to an adequate multiplicative noise, an effective bistable dynamics arises. The stochastic resonance between the attractors of the noise-sustained dynamics is investigated theoretically in terms of a two-state approximation. The knowledge of the exact nonequilibrium potential allows us to obtain the output signal-to-noise ratio. Its maximum is predicted in the symmetric case for which both attractors have the same nonequilibrium potential value.The authors thank Professor R. Toral for fruitful discussions. H.S.W. acknowledges partial support from ANPCyT, Argentina, and thanks the MECyD, Spain, for an award within the Sabbatical Program for Visiting Professors, and to the Universitat de les Illes Balears for the kind hospitality extended to him.Peer reviewe