First-passage times for random walks in bounded domains

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Dec 31;95(26):260601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.260601. Epub 2005 Dec 19.

Abstract

We present a novel computational method of first-passage times between a starting site and a target site of regular bounded lattices. We derive accurate expressions for all the moments of this first-passage time, validated by numerical simulations. Their range of validity is discussed. We also consider the case of a starting site and two targets. In addition, we present the extension to continuous Brownian motion. These results are of great relevance to any system involving diffusion in confined media.