Osmotic Breathing of Prebiotic Vesicles: Derivation of the Natural Angular Frequency ω₀
Abstract
We present a minimal physical derivation of the natural angular frequency of radial oscillations (“osmotic breathing”) of a prebiotic vesicle. The vesicle radius R(t) is treated as the dynamical variable. By linearizing the pressure balance around equilibrium and introducing an effective radial stiffness, we obtain a simple scaling law for ω₀. The resulting expression shows that the oscillation frequency increases with membrane tension and decreases strongly with vesicle size, scaling as R₀^(-3/2).
Fields of Study & Subjects
Origins and Evolution of Life
Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint