title: Physarum polycephalum percolation as a paradigm for topological phase transitions in transportation networks.
abstract: We study the formation of transportation networks of the true slime mold Physarum polycephalum after fragmentation by shear. Small fragments, called microplasmodia, fuse to form macroplasmodia in a percolation transition. At this topological phase transition, one single giant component forms, connecting most of the previously isolated microplasmodia. Employing the configuration model of graph theory for small link degree, we have found analytically an exact solution for the phase transition. It is generally applicable to percolation as seen, e.g., in vascular networks.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biophysik, Universität Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fessel
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oettmeier
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernitt
authors.forename: Nils C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Hans-Günther
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Döbereiner
mesh_terms: D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D044367:Phase Transition; D016839:Physarum polycephalum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*