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Dynamic structure of active nematic shells

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Zhang

    (Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago)

  • Ye Zhou

    (Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago)

  • Mohammad Rahimi

    (Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago)

  • Juan J. de Pablo

    (Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago)

Abstract

When a thin film of active, nematic microtubules and kinesin motor clusters is confined on the surface of a vesicle, four +1/2 topological defects oscillate in a periodic manner between tetrahedral and planar arrangements. Here a theoretical description of nematics, coupled to the relevant hydrodynamic equations, is presented here to explain the dynamics of active nematic shells. In extensile microtubule systems, the defects repel each other due to elasticity, and their collective motion leads to closed trajectories along the edges of a cube. That motion is accompanied by oscillations of their velocities, and the emergence and annihilation of vortices. When the activity increases, the system enters a chaotic regime. In contrast, for contractile systems, which are representative of some bacterial suspensions, a hitherto unknown static structure is predicted, where pairs of defects attract each other and flows arise spontaneously.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Zhang & Ye Zhou & Mohammad Rahimi & Juan J. de Pablo, 2016. "Dynamic structure of active nematic shells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13483
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13483
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    Cited by:

    1. A. Tiribocchi & M. Durve & M. Lauricella & A. Montessori & D. Marenduzzo & S. Succi, 2023. "The crucial role of adhesion in the transmigration of active droplets through interstitial orifices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Chamkor Singh & Abhishek Chaudhuri, 2024. "Anomalous dynamics of a passive droplet in active turbulence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Chiao-Peng Hsu & Alfredo Sciortino & Yu Alice Trobe & Andreas R. Bausch, 2022. "Activity-induced polar patterns of filaments gliding on a sphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.

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