Dimensional reduction of a general advection–diffusion equation in 2D channels

Diffusion of point-like particles in a two-dimensional channel of varying width is studied. The particles are driven by an arbitrary space dependent force. We construct a general recurrence procedure mapping the corresponding two-dimensional advection-diffusion equation onto the longitudinal coordinate x. Unlike the previous specific cases, the presented procedure enables us to find the one-dimensional description of the confined diffusion even for non-conservative (vortex) forces, e.g. caused by flowing solvent dragging the particles. We show that the result is again the generalized Fick-Jacobs equation. Despite of non existing scalar potential in the case of vortex forces, the effective one-dimensional scalar potential, as well as the corresponding quasi-equilibrium and the effective diffusion coefficient [Formula: see text] can be always found.