Rate description of Fokker-Planck processes with time dependent parameters

The reduction of a continuous Markov process with multiple metastable states to a discrete rate process is investigated in the presence of slow time dependent parameters such as periodic external forces or slowly fluctuating barrier heights. A quantitative criterion is provided under which condition a kinetic description with time dependent frozen rates applies. Finally it is shown how the long time behavior of the underlying continuous process can be retrieved from the knowledge of the discrete process by means of an appropriate random decoration of the discrete states. As a particular example of the presented theory an over-damped bistable Brownian oscillator with periodic driving is discussed.