Noise-induced clustering in Hamiltonian systems

Abstract

The motion of oscillatory-like nonlinear Hamiltonian systems, driven by a weak noise, is considered. A general method to find regions of stability in the phase space of a randomly-driven system, based on a specific Poincar\'e map, is proposed and justified. Physical manifestations of these regions of stability, the so-called coherent clusters, are demonstrated with two models in ocean physics. We find bunches of sound rays propagating coherently in an underwater waveguide through a randomly fluctuating ocean at long distances. We find clusters of passive particles to be advected coherently by a random two-dimensional flow modelling mixing around a topographic eddy in the ocean.