Relaxation of finite perturbations: Beyond the fluctuation-response relation

We study the response of dynamical systems to finite amplitude perturbation. A generalized fluctuation-response relation is derived, which links the average relaxation toward equilibrium to the invariant measure of the system and points out the relevance of the amplitude of the initial perturbation. Numerical computations on systems with many characteristic times show the relevance of the above-mentioned relation in realistic cases. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.