Nanoscale Communication with Brownian Motion

TL;DR

This paper explores nanoscale communication via chemical messages using Brownian motion, offering models and capacity results that demonstrate the potential for rates over one bit per particle, relevant for nanotech and biotech applications.

Contribution

It introduces models for chemical communication with Brownian motion and provides capacity results, highlighting the feasibility of high-rate nanoscale communication.

Findings

Achievable rates exceed one bit per particle.

Models for particle-based communication are established.

Potential applications in nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Abstract

In this paper, the problem of communicating using chemical messages propagating using Brownian motion, rather than electromagnetic messages propagating as waves in free space or along a wire, is considered. This problem is motivated by nanotechnological and biotechnological applications, where the energy cost of electromagnetic communication might be prohibitive. Models are given for communication using particles that propagate with Brownian motion, and achievable capacity results are given. Under conservative assumptions, it is shown that rates exceeding one bit per particle are achievable.