Stochastic resonance in a bistable potential is fully characterized as a synchronization effect of the hopping mechanism induced by the external periodic bias. Most notably, synchronization is shown to attain a maximum by increasing the forcing frequency close to the relevant switching rate, thus revealing a bona fide resonant process.

• Received 13 July 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.1052