Effective Diffusivity for Transport with Fluctuating Drift Velocity

Consider a particle whose drift velocity fluctuates due to transitions among discrete states or due to diffusion in a confined moving fluid. At long times, the dynamics of the particle in the direction of transport can be described in terms of the average drift velocity and an effective diffusivity. For both types of fluctuations, we show that the effective diffusivity is the sum of the average intrinsic diffusivity and the time integral of the velocity correlation function of the deviation of the fluctuating velocity from its mean value. For nearest-neighbor interstate transitions and for one-dimensional diffusion in a perpendicular direction, the time integral can be found in closed form. Our analytical expressions for the effective diffusivity recover the classic results for Taylor dispersion in the laminar flow of viscous fluid and for cargo transport along microtubules by molecular motors.

Automated summary

The article discusses particle drift velocity fluctuations due to transitions among discrete states or due to diffusion in a confined moving fluid, and outlines a method for calculating the effective diffusivity. Analytical expressions are provided for effective diffusivity under specific conditions, recovering classic results for Taylor dispersion and cargo transport along microtubules.