Effect of Receptor Density and Size on Signal Reception in Molecular Communication via Diffusion with an Absorbing Receiver

TL;DR

This paper investigates how receptor size and density influence signal reception in molecular communication, revealing that smaller, more numerous receptors improve detection probability and effective signaling.

Contribution

It provides the first analysis of receptor size and density effects on molecular communication performance with absorbing receivers.

Findings

Higher receptor density with smaller receptors increases hitting probability.

Small receptor coverage can still enable detectable signals.

Optimal receptor configurations enhance communication efficiency.

Abstract

The performance of molecular communication is significantly impacted by the reception process of the messenger molecules. The receptors' size and density, however, have yet to be investigated. In this letter, we analyze the effect of receptor density and size on the signal reception of an absorbing receiver with receptors. The results show that, when the total receptor area is the same, better hitting probability is achieved by using a higher number of relatively small receptors. In addition, deploying receptors, which cover a small percentage of the receiver surface, is able to create an effective communication channel that has a detectable signal level.