Impact of these dynamics on the potential energy Δ V ( P , ϕ ), introduced in Fig. 1 , in the vicinity of ϕ = 0°. At negative time delays, the thermal fluctuations <u_AFD^2> cover a region whose averaged potential-energy gain along the FE coordinate is small, thereby prohibiting a condensation of this mode. At zero time delay, the fluctuations <u_AFD^2> are enhanced, further reducing the probability to condensate into an FE state. At positive time delays, the <u_AFD^2> fluctuations are reduced, favouring condensation of the FE soft mode due to a large averaged potential-energy gain along the FE coordinate. The bottom panel shows the reconstructed potential of the FE soft mode induced by the time-delay-dependent changes in <u_AFD^2> and strain. The potential narrows at time zero, but at positive time delays, the combined action of reduced <u_AFD^2> and enhanced strain pushes the potential towards the double-well regime.
