Transport-Generated Signals Uncover Geometric Features of Evolving Branched Structures

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Kreten, Fabian H., Santen, Ludger, Shaebani, Reza
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Kreten, Fabian H.
Santen, Ludger
Shaebani, Reza
author_facet Kreten, Fabian H.
Santen, Ludger
Shaebani, Reza
contents Branched structures that evolve over time critically determine the function of various natural and engineered systems, including growing vasculature, neural arborization, pulmonary networks such as lungs, river basins, power distribution networks, and synthetic flow media. Inferring the underlying geometric properties of such systems and monitoring their structural and morphological evolution is therefore essential. However, this remains a major challenge due to limited access and the transient nature of the internal states. Here, we present a general framework for recovering the geometric features of evolving branched structures by analyzing the signals generated by tracer particles during transport. As tracers traverse the structure, they emit detectable pulses upon reaching a fixed observation point. We show that the statistical properties of this signal intensity -- which reflect underlying first-passage dynamics -- encode key structural features such as network extent, localized trapping frequency, and bias of motion (e.g., due to branch tapering). Crucially, this method enables inference from externally observable quantities, requiring no knowledge of individual particle trajectories or internal measurements. Our approach provides a scalable, non-invasive strategy for probing dynamic complex geometries across a wide range of systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_11575
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Transport-Generated Signals Uncover Geometric Features of Evolving Branched Structures
Kreten, Fabian H.
Santen, Ludger
Shaebani, Reza
Statistical Mechanics
Soft Condensed Matter
Branched structures that evolve over time critically determine the function of various natural and engineered systems, including growing vasculature, neural arborization, pulmonary networks such as lungs, river basins, power distribution networks, and synthetic flow media. Inferring the underlying geometric properties of such systems and monitoring their structural and morphological evolution is therefore essential. However, this remains a major challenge due to limited access and the transient nature of the internal states. Here, we present a general framework for recovering the geometric features of evolving branched structures by analyzing the signals generated by tracer particles during transport. As tracers traverse the structure, they emit detectable pulses upon reaching a fixed observation point. We show that the statistical properties of this signal intensity -- which reflect underlying first-passage dynamics -- encode key structural features such as network extent, localized trapping frequency, and bias of motion (e.g., due to branch tapering). Crucially, this method enables inference from externally observable quantities, requiring no knowledge of individual particle trajectories or internal measurements. Our approach provides a scalable, non-invasive strategy for probing dynamic complex geometries across a wide range of systems.
title Transport-Generated Signals Uncover Geometric Features of Evolving Branched Structures
topic Statistical Mechanics
Soft Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.11575