Active carpets drive non-equilibrium diffusion and enhanced molecular fluxes

Biological activity is often highly concentrated on surfaces, across the scales from molecular motors and ciliary arrays to sessile and motile organisms. These 'active carpets' locally inject energy into their surrounding fluid. Whereas Fick's laws of diffusion are established near equilibrium, it is unclear how to solve non-equilibrium transport driven by such boundary-actuated fluctuations. Here, we derive the enhanced diffusivity of molecules or passive particles as a function of distance from an active carpet. Following Schnitzer's telegraph model, we then cast these results into generalised Fick's laws. Two archetypal problems are solved using these laws: First, considering sedimentation towards an active carpet, we find a self-cleaning effect where surface-driven fluctuations can repel particles. Second, considering diffusion from a source to an active sink, say nutrient capture by suspension feeders, we find a large molecular flux compared to thermal diffusion. Hence, our results could elucidate certain non-equilibrium properties of active coating materials and life at interfaces. Fick's laws describe the essential physics of diffusion, but it is challenging to extend them to systems out of equilibrium. The authors derive the diffusivity of particles near active carpets - a surface covered with hydrodynamic actuators, which provides a framework for transport in living matter.

Automated summary

The study reveals that the surface of active carpets enhances the diffusivity of molecules or passive particles while the Fick's laws remain unresolved in non-equilibrium situations. By deriving generalised Fick's laws, two archetypal problems of sedimentation and diffusion are solved, shedding light on certain non-equilibrium properties of active materials and life at interfaces.