Diffusion of asymmetric swimmers.
Particles moving along curved trajectories will diffuse if the curvature fluctuates sufficiently in either magnitude or orientation. We consider particles moving at a constant speed with either a fixed or a Gaussian distributed magnitude of curvature. At small speeds the diffusivity is independent of the speed. At larger particle speeds, the diffusivity depends on the speed through a novel exponent. We apply our results to intracellular transport of vesicles. In sharp contrast to thermal diffusion, the effective diffusivity increases with vesicle size and so may provide an effective means of intracellular transport.
Rutenberg
Andrew D
AD
Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5.
Richardson
Andrew J
AJ
Montgomery
Claire J
CJ
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
D000199:Actins