On the permeability of membranes with parallel, but interconnected, pathways (Q1072948)

When diffusion through a membrane can take place by alternative parallel pathways between which there is exchange, the permeability is not simply the sum of the permeabilities due to the pathways but has an interaction term due to the exchange. Such is the case in a limiting model of carrier diffusion, in diffusion through porous solids, and in media with double diffusivity. The case of two pathways is developed in detail, and the general case of n pathways is solved.