Figure 3.

Uncertainty in cell length due to detector switching dynamics. (a) For a fixed density profile, uncertainty is minimized by choosing K = ρ₀(L_T). This effect is most pronounced for larger cooperativity in detector activation, γ. (b) For fixed K, an optimal gradient length scale λ exists. Each curve corresponds to a different value of K with γ = 1. (Vertical dotted lines) Value of λ for which ${\rho }_0^n$(L_T) = K. In each case, the minimum of Δ$L_{\mathrm{sw}}^n$ is at a smaller value of λ. Parameters are as described in Model (see text) and N_d = 200.