Competition of small targets in planar domains: from Dirichlet to Robin and Steklov boundary condition

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Auteurs principaux: Grebenkov, Denis S., Ward, Michael J.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Grebenkov, Denis S.
Ward, Michael J.
author_facet Grebenkov, Denis S.
Ward, Michael J.
contents We consider steady-state diffusion in a bounded planar domain with multiple small targets on a smooth boundary. Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions, we investigate the competition of these targets for a diffusing particle and the crucial role of surface reactions on the targets. We start from the classical problem of splitting probabilities for perfectly reactive targets with Dirichlet boundary condition and improve some earlier results. We discuss how this approach can be generalized to partially reactive targets characterized by a Robin boundary condition. In particular, we show how partial reactivity reduces the effective size of the target. In addition, we consider more intricate surface reactions modeled by mixed Steklov-Neumann or Steklov-Neumann-Dirichlet problems. We provide the first derivation of the asymptotic behavior of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for these spectral problems in the small-target limit. Finally, we show how our asymptotic approach can be extended to interior targets in the bulk and to exterior problems where diffusion occurs in an unbounded planar domain outside a compact set. Direct applications of these results to diffusion-controlled reactions are discussed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_26367
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Competition of small targets in planar domains: from Dirichlet to Robin and Steklov boundary condition
Grebenkov, Denis S.
Ward, Michael J.
Analysis of PDEs
Mathematical Physics
Spectral Theory
We consider steady-state diffusion in a bounded planar domain with multiple small targets on a smooth boundary. Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions, we investigate the competition of these targets for a diffusing particle and the crucial role of surface reactions on the targets. We start from the classical problem of splitting probabilities for perfectly reactive targets with Dirichlet boundary condition and improve some earlier results. We discuss how this approach can be generalized to partially reactive targets characterized by a Robin boundary condition. In particular, we show how partial reactivity reduces the effective size of the target. In addition, we consider more intricate surface reactions modeled by mixed Steklov-Neumann or Steklov-Neumann-Dirichlet problems. We provide the first derivation of the asymptotic behavior of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for these spectral problems in the small-target limit. Finally, we show how our asymptotic approach can be extended to interior targets in the bulk and to exterior problems where diffusion occurs in an unbounded planar domain outside a compact set. Direct applications of these results to diffusion-controlled reactions are discussed.
title Competition of small targets in planar domains: from Dirichlet to Robin and Steklov boundary condition
topic Analysis of PDEs
Mathematical Physics
Spectral Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.26367