QUALITATIVE PROPERTIES OF STEADY-STATE POISSON-NERNST-PLANCK SYSTEMS - MATHEMATICAL STUDY

We examine qualitative properties of solutions of self-consistent Pois son-Nernst-Planck systems, including uniqueness. In the case of vanish ing permanent charge, the predominant case studied, our results unveil a rich structure inherent in these systems, one that is determined by the boundary conditions and the signs of the oppositely charged carri er fluxes. A particularly significant special case, that of simple bou ndary conditions, is shown to lead to uniqueness and to a complete cha racterization. This case underlies the more complicated cases studied later. A contraction mapping principle is included for completeness an d allows for an arbitrary permanent charge distribution.