Enhanced response to a signal from an ensemble of interacting bistable elements

A one-dimensional ensemble comprising a large number of interacting bistabl e elements was studied analytically. Formulas for a noiseless and a noise-d riven response to a signal were derived for the steady-state case. Contrast ing them with each other testifies to the enhancement of the response if no ise is present in the ensemble. The response of the ensemble is found to ex ceed that of a single element by a quantity that exponentially rises with t he coupling constant. It was inferred that the interaction of bistable elem ents makes stochastic resonance more pronounced. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Inter periodica".