Self-Sustained Density Oscillations of Swimming Bacteria Confined in Microchambers
Soft Condensed Matter
2015-11-04 v2 Statistical Mechanics
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 behaviour arises from the combination of a narrow channel, preventing bacteria reorientation, and a density dependent motility inside the chambers.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1412.1131,
title = {Self-Sustained Density Oscillations of Swimming Bacteria Confined in Microchambers},
author = {M. Paoluzzi and R. Di Leonardo and L. Angelani},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1412.1131},
year = {2015}
}