Optimal values (<i>t</i>_on/<i>t</i>_off)_opt of the ratio <i>t</i>_on/<i>t</i>_off that yield maximum decline rate, <i>k</i>, of successive peaks of bacterial population counts, <i>c</i>(<i>t</i>_2<i>ℓ</i>), as a function of the quantities , according to Eq (11).

Values of Rn, Rp are considered in the range ±25% of the experimentally estimated values, which correspond to (ton/toff)opt≈0.4, marked by the black dot and gray horizontal plane through it.