Stochastic resonance: a signal+noise in a two state system

The term stochastic resonance (SR) describes a stochastic phenomenon which occurs in bistable systems when driven by a weak periodic signal embedded in noise of comparable intensity. The author discusses the phenomenology of stochastic resonance, outlines the theoretical questions, and demonstrates typical measurements on an analog simulator. The resonance occurs when the period of the signal becomes comparable to an internal time scale established by the noise. For such a condition, the signal-to-noise ratio of the response of the bistable system is maximized.<>