Localized States in Active Fluids
Luca Barberi, Karsten Kruse
Abstract
Biological active matter is typically tightly coupled to chemical reaction networks affecting its assembly-disassembly dynamics and stress generation. We show that localized states can emerge spontaneously if assembly of active matter is regulated by chemical species that are advected with flows resulting from gradients in the active stress. The mechanochemical localized patterns form via a subcritical bifurcation and for parameter values for which patterns do not exist in absence of the advective coupling. Our work identifies a generic mechanism underlying localized cellular patterns.
Topics & Concepts
Active matterBifurcationAdvectionWork (physics)Chemical physicsCoupling (piping)PhysicsMechanism (biology)Chemical reactionStress (linguistics)MechanicsBiological systemPattern formationClassical mechanicsStatistical physicsMaterials scienceChemistryThermodynamicsNonlinear systemBiologyQuantum mechanicsLinguisticsPhilosophyCell biologyGeneticsBiochemistryMetallurgyMicro and Nano RoboticsSlime Mold and Myxomycetes ResearchNonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation