Dissipation functions and Brownian oscillators

Abstract

We develop a general framework for response theory in diffusion processes governed by Fokker-Planck equations, based on the notion of the Dissipation Function. Using the analytically solvable Brownian oscillator model, we derive exact response formulae for both overdamped and underdamped dynamics of harmonically bound Brownian particles. We also demonstrate that for certain observables and under suitable time scaling, the operations of model reduction and response formula extraction commute.