Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/iii/paper-81/4/solution

Let be probability density per unit solid angle, with and isotropic initial condition . In still fluid, bottom-heavy spherical-cell orientation dynamics gives . Adding isotropic rotational diffusion gives the gyrotactic orientation Fokker-Planck equation
The derivatives are tangential to the unit sphere. Rotational symmetry about is preserved by both the equation and the initial condition, so depends only on . Since , the polar probability flux is . Expanding yields
Regular solutions have no probability flux through the poles. The mean swimming velocity is , with only a vertical component by symmetry.

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