Open Access
June 2018 Stochastic coagulation-fragmentation processes with a finite number of particles and applications
Nathanael Hoze, David Holcman
Ann. Appl. Probab. 28(3): 1449-1490 (June 2018). DOI: 10.1214/17-AAP1334

Abstract

Coagulation-fragmentation processes describe the stochastic association and dissociation of particles in clusters. Cluster dynamics with cluster-cluster interactions for a finite number of particles has recently attracted attention especially in stochastic analysis and statistical physics of cellular biology, as novel experimental data are now available, but their interpretation remains challenging. We derive here probability distribution functions for clusters that can either aggregate upon binding to form clusters of arbitrary sizes or a single cluster can dissociate into two sub-clusters. Using combinatorics properties and Markov chain representation, we compute steady-state distributions and moments for the number of particles per cluster in the case where the coagulation and fragmentation rates follow a detailed balance condition. We obtain explicit and asymptotic formulas for the cluster size and the number of clusters in terms of hypergeometric functions. To further characterize clustering, we introduce and discuss two mean times: one is the mean time two particles spend together before they separate and the other is the mean time they spend separated before they meet again for the first time. Finally, we discuss applications of the present stochastic coagulation-fragmentation framework in cell biology.

Citation

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Nathanael Hoze. David Holcman. "Stochastic coagulation-fragmentation processes with a finite number of particles and applications." Ann. Appl. Probab. 28 (3) 1449 - 1490, June 2018. https://doi.org/10.1214/17-AAP1334

Information

Received: 1 November 2016; Revised: 1 May 2017; Published: June 2018
First available in Project Euclid: 1 June 2018

zbMATH: 06919730
MathSciNet: MR3809469
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1214/17-AAP1334

Subjects:
Primary: 60J20
Secondary: 05A17

Keywords: coagulation-fragmentation processes , Markov chain , Stochastic processes

Rights: Copyright © 2018 Institute of Mathematical Statistics

Vol.28 • No. 3 • June 2018
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