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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Finite Element Modelling of a Cellular Electric Microenvironment
Published on: May 18, 2021
Nonlocal and nonlinear electrostatics of a dipolar Coulomb fluid
Buyukdagli Sahin1, Blossey Ralf
1Biological Nanosystems, Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Université des Sciences et des Technologies de Lille (USTL), USR CNRS 3078, 50 Avenue Halley, 59568 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Abstract:
We study a model Coulomb fluid consisting of dipolar solvent molecules of finite extent which generalizes the point-like dipolar Poisson-Boltzmann model (DPB) previously introduced by Coalson and Duncan (1996 J. Phys. Chem. 100 2612) and Abrashkin et al (2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 077801). We formulate a nonlocal Poisson-Boltzmann equation (NLPB) and study both linear and nonlinear dielectric response in this model for the case of a single plane geometry. Our results shed light on the relevance of nonlocal versus nonlinear effects in continuum models of material electrostatics.
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