https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2009-10529-0
Regular Article
The first-passage problem for diffusion through a cylindrical pore with sticky walls
1
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187, Dresden, Germany
2
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauer Straße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
* e-mail: licata@mpi-cbg.de
** e-mail: grill@mpi-cbg.de
Received:
29
May
2009
Revised:
10
August
2009
Accepted:
1
October
2009
Published online:
24
October
2009
We calculate the first-passage time distribution for diffusion through a cylindrical pore with sticky walls. A particle diffusively explores the interior of the pore through a series of binding and unbinding events with the cylinder wall. Through a diagrammatic expansion we obtain first-passage time statistics for the particle’s exit from the pore. Connections between the model and nucleocytoplasmic transport in cells are discussed.
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2009