Molecular dynamics MD simulations are carried out to investigate the permeation of
nanometer-sized cylindrical pores connecting two reservoirs, by water molecules and by a
reference Lennard-Jones fluid. Water molecules penetrate a channel of fixed length only
beyond a minimum radius. Near threshold, permeation is found to be intermittent and
sensitive to other physical parameters, including the polarizability of the medium eg, a cell
membrane embedding the channel. Once the molecules fill the pore, the confined water …