Delayed Random Relays

TL;DR

This paper investigates how delays affect signal transmission in a chain of random walkers, revealing an optimal number of walkers for fastest signal travel and discussing implications for physical and biological systems.

Contribution

It introduces a model of delayed signal relays among random walkers and identifies an optimal number of relays for minimal transmission time.

Findings

Existence of an optimal number of walkers for fastest signal transmission

Delays significantly influence the relay efficiency

Implications for physical and biological systems

Abstract

We present here a system with collection of random walks relaying a signal in one dimension in the presence of delays. We are interested in the time for a signal to travel from one end (start) to the other end (finish) of the lined group of random walkers. The delay is introduced at the point when the signal is transferred from each walker to the next one. It is found that there is an optimal number of walkers for the signal to travel fastest when delays are present. We discuss implications of this model and associated behaviors to physical and biological systems.