Directed intermittent search for hidden targets
File(s)mRNA(IOP).pdf (263.77 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Bressloff, Paul
Newby, Jay
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We develop and analyze a stochastic model of directed intermittent search for a hidden target on a one-dimensional track. A particle injected at one end of the track randomly switches between a stationary search phase and a mobile, non-search phase that is biased in the anterograde direction. There is a finite possibility that the particle fails to find the target due to an absorbing boundary at the other end of the track or due to competition with other targets. Such a scenario is exemplified by the motor-driven transport of mRNA granules to synaptic targets along a dendrite. We first calculate the hitting probability and conditional mean first passage time (MFPT) for finding a single target. We show that an optimal search strategy does not exist, although for a fixed hitting probability, a unidirectional rather than a partially biased search strategy generates a smaller MFPT. We then extend our analysis to the case of multiple targets, and determine how the hitting probability and MFPT depend on the number of targets.
Date Issued
2009-02
Date Acceptance
2009-02-01
Citation
New Journal of Physics, 2009, 11 (2)
ISSN
1367-2630
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
New Journal of Physics
Volume
11
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in New Journal of Physics. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at 10.1088/1367-2630/11/2/023033
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/11/2/023033
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
023033
Date Publish Online
2009-02-20