Phase Separation Driven by Active Flows
Soft Condensed Matter
2023-08-02 v2 Biological Physics
Abstract
We extend the continuum theories of active nematohydrodynamics to model a two-fluid mixture with separate velocity fields for each fluid component, coupled through a viscous drag. The model is used to study an active nematic fluid, mixed with an isotropic fluid. We find micro-phase separation, and argue that this results from an interplay between active anchoring and active flows driven by concentration gradients. The results may be relevant to cell-sorting and the formation of lipid rafts in cell membranes.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2302.00153,
title = {Phase Separation Driven by Active Flows},
author = {Saraswat Bhattacharyya and Julia M. Yeomans},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2302.00153},
year = {2023}
}