Effect of reactive targets on diffusive transport with intermittent restarts

Abstract

We study search processes in a complex environment using the strategy of stochastic resetting. A common occurrence in these environments is targets with finite reactivity. Stochastic resetting has emerged as a powerful mechanism for optimizing search processes by curtailing long, unproductive excursions inherent to diffusive dynamics. Most theoretical studies, however, assume perfectly absorbing targets -- an idealization that overlooks the finite reactivity commonly encountered in realistic chemical and biological systems. In this work, we investigate the interplay between stochastic resetting and finite-target reactivity in reaction - diffusion processes. Considering a one-dimensional system with multiple reactive targets, we demonstrated that the target reactivity modifies the optimization landscape. We uncover distinct regimes in which resetting enhances transport efficiency towards specific targets based on their chemical kinetics. As a consequence, the optimal resetting rate becomes intrinsically reactivity dependent. Our results identify target reactivity as a crucial control parameter governing stochastic transport and provide insights into reaction-diffusion processes in complex media.