Coherence resonance in an excitable potential well

Highlights: • The excitable dynamics is considered as motion of a particle in a potential field. • Stochastic motion in a state-dependent potential well in the presence of positive dissipation is described. • Conception of an excitable potential well is introduced. - Abstract: The excitable behaviour is considered as motion of a particle in a potential field in the presence of dissipation. The dynamics of the oscillator proposed in the present paper corresponds to the excitable behaviour in a potential well under condition of positive dissipation. Type-II excitability of the offered system results from intrinsic peculiarities of the potential well, whose shape depends on a system state. Concept of an excitable potential well is introduced. The effect of coherence resonance and self-oscillation excitation in a state-dependent potential well under condition of positive dissipation are explored in numerical experiments.