Influence of additive noise on transitions in nonlinear systems

The effect of additive noise on transitions in nonlinear systems far from e quilibrium is studied. It is shown that additive noise in itself can induce a hidden phase transition, which is similar to the transition induced by m ultiplicative noise in a nonlinear oscillator [F. Landa and A. Zaikin, Phys . Rev. E 54, 3535 (1996)]. Investigation of different nonlinear models that demonstrate phase transitions induced by multiplicative noise shows that t he influence of additive noise upon such phase transitions can be crucial: additive noise can either blur such a transition or stabilize noise-induced oscillations.