title: Exact mean exit time for surface-mediated diffusion.
abstract: We present an exact expression for the mean exit time through the cap of a confining sphere for particles alternating phases of surface and of bulk diffusion. The present approach is based on an integral equation which can be solved analytically. In contrast to the statement of Berezhkovskii and Barzykin [J. Chem. Phys. 136, 54115 (2012)], we show that the mean exit time can be optimized with respect to the desorption rate, under analytically determined criteria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée (UMR 7600), Case Courrier 121, Université Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, 75255 Paris Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bénichou
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Grebenkov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voituriez
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors