Self-Sustained Density Oscillations of Swimming Bacteria Confined in Microchambers

Condensed Matter journal club

Self-Sustained Density Oscillations of Swimming Bacteria Confined in Microchambers

  • Event time: 11:30am
  • Event date: 4th March 2016
  • Speaker: Clemence Devailly (Formerly School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Abstract

We numerically study the dynamics of run-and-tumble particles confined in two chambers connected by thin channels. Two dominant dynamical behaviors emerge: (i) an oscillatory pumping state, in which particles periodically fill the two vessels, and (ii) a circulating flow state, dynamically maintaining a near constant population level in the containers when connected by two channels. We demonstrate that the oscillatory behavior arises from the combination of a narrow channel, preventing bacteria reorientation, and a density-dependent motility inside the chambers.
PRL 115 article 188303 (2015)
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Authors

M. Paoluzzi, R. Di Leonardo, L. Angelani

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