Melnikov's criterion for nondifferentiable weak-noise potentials

The stationary probability density of Fokker-Planck models with weak noise is asymptotically of the form exp[–1 /(q)]. If is smooth, it satisfies a Hamilton-Jacobi equation at zero energy and can be interpreted as the action of an associated Hamiltonian system. Under this assumption, has the properties of a Liapounov function, and can be used, e.g., as a thermodynamic potential in nonequilibrium steady states. We consider systems having several attractors and show, by applying Melnikov's method to the associated Hamiltonian, that in general is not differentiable. A small perturbation of a model with differentiable leads to a nondifferentiable . The method is illustrated on a model used in the treatment of the unstable mode in a laser.