Complex spontaneous flows and concentration banding in active polar films.
We study the dynamical properties of active polar liquid crystalline films. Like active nematic films, active polar films undergo a dynamical transition to spontaneously flowing steady states. Spontaneous flow in polar fluids is, however, always accompanied by strong concentration inhomogeneities or "banding" not seen in nematics. In addition, a spectacular property unique to polar active films is their ability to generate spontaneously oscillating and banded flows even at low activity. The oscillatory flows become increasingly complicated for strong polarity.
Giomi
Luca
L
Physics Department , Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA.
Marchetti
M Cristina
MC
Liverpool
Tanniemola B
TB
D000205:Actomyosin / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical
D000205:Actomyosin; D016547:Kinesins