Noise-Enhanced Mechanical Efficiency In Microorganism Transport

CONDAT, CARLOS; SIBONA, GUSTAVO JAVIER

PHYSICA A - STATISTICAL AND THEORETICAL PHYSICS

Año: 2002 p. 203 - 212

0378-4371

Brownian forces have a nonnegligible e ect on the motion of small microorganisms (sizes of the order of the or smaller).Starting from the model for the motion of Brownian objects with internal energy depots recently proposed by Schweitzer et al.(Phys.Rev.Lett.80 (1998) 5044)(SET),we show that external uctuations can increase the mechanical e ciency of a microorganism ’s propulsion system.Our analytical results and Monte-Carlo simulations suggest that, under certain circumstances,microorganisms can take advantage of Brownian forces to search more e ciently for a favorable environment.Other dynamical properties of the model are also examined.increase the mechanical e ciency of a microorganism ’s propulsion system.Our analytical results and Monte-Carlo simulations suggest that, under certain circumstances,microorganisms can take advantage of Brownian forces to search more e ciently for a favorable environment.Other dynamical properties of the model are also examined.