Optimal searcher distribution for parallel random target searches

Abstract

We consider a problem of finding a target located in a finite d-dimensional domain, using N independent random walkers, when partial information about the target location is given as a probability distribution. When N is large, the first-passage time sensitively depends on the initial searcher distribution, which invokes the question of the optimal searcher distribution that minimizes the first-passage time. Here, we analytically derive the equation for the optimal distribution and explore its limiting expressions. If the target volume can be ignored, the optimal distribution is proportional to the target distribution to the power of one third. If we consider a target of a finite volume and the probability of the initial overlapping of searchers with the target cannot be ignored in the large N limit, the optimal distribution has a weak dependence on the target distribution, with its variation being proportional to the logarithm of the target distribution. Using Langevin dynamics simulations, we numerically demonstrate our predictions in one and two dimensions.