Linear and nonlinear approximations for periodically driven bistable systems

We analyze periodically driven bistable systems by two different approaches. The first approach is a linearization of the stochastic Langevin equation of our system by the response on small external force. The second one is based on the Gaussian approximation of the kinetic equations for the cumulants. We obtain with the first approach the signal power amplification and output signal-to-noise ratio for a model piece-wise linear bistable potential and compare with the results of linear response approximation. By using the second approach to a bistable quartic potential, we obtain the set of nonlinear differential equations for the first and the second cumulants.