Active transport and cluster formation on 2D networks.
We introduce a model for active transport on inhomogeneous networks embedded in a diffusive environment which is motivated by vesicular transport on actin filaments. In the presence of a hard-core interaction, particle clusters are observed that exhibit an algebraically decaying distribution in a large parameter regime, indicating the existence of clusters on all scales. The scale-free behavior can be understood by a mechanism promoting preferential attachment of particles to large clusters. The results are compared with a diffusion-limited aggregation model and active transport on a regular network. For both models we observe aggregation of particles to clusters which are characterized by a finite size scale if the relevant time scales and particle densities are considered.
Greulich
P
P
Fachrichtung Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany. pg@thp.uni-koeln.de
Santen
L
L
D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010316:Particle Size