Variational supersymmetric approach to evaluate Fokker-Planck probability

In this work we introduce a method to determine the time dependent probability density for the one-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation. The treatment is based in an analysis of the Schrodinger equation through the variational method associated to the formalism of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SQM). The approach uses an ansatz for the superpotential which allows us to obtain the trial functions of the variational method. The hierarchy of effective Hamiltonians permits us to determine the variational eigenfunctions and energies of the excited states to the evaluation of the probability. The symmetric bistable potential is used to illustrate the approach whose results are compared with results obtained by the state-dependent diagonalization method and by direct numerical calculation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.