The Inverse Mean First-Passage Time Problem

Abstract

We consider the mean first-passage time $τ(x)$ for an overdamped particle in a one-dimensional potential landscape, and address the problem inverse to the textbook one: Given $τ(x)$ as a function of starting distance, we look for a potential that realizes it. We derive the conditions on $τ(x)$ under which such a potential exists. We show that while the power-law dependences $τ(x)\sim x^α$ with $α\leq 2$ may be realized by monotonic potentials, any realizable $τ(x)$ with superquadratic growth requires potential wells arbitrarily far from the target; $α= 2$ separates sliding from trapping-dominated motion regimes.