https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e20020069
Rowers coupled hydrodynamically. Modeling possible mechanisms for the cooperation of cilia
1
FOM Institute for Atomic and
Molecular Physics (AMOLF), Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
2
Universitáê degli Studi di Milano, Dip. Fisica, Via
Celoria 16, 20100 Milano, Italy
3
Politecnico di Milano, Dip. Fisica, Pza Leonardo Da
Vinci 32, 20100 Milano, Italy
Corresponding authors: a cosentino-lagomarsino@amolf.nl - b bassetti@mi.infn.it - c patrizia.jona@polimi.it
Received:
12
June
2001
Revised:
9
January
2002
Published online: 15 March 2002
We introduce a model system of stochastic entities, called rowers which include some essentials of the behavior of real cilia. We introduce and discuss the problem of symmetry breaking for these objects and its connection with the onset of macroscopic, directed flow in the fluid. We perform a mean field-like calculation showing that hydrodynamic interaction may provide for the symmetry breaking mechanism and the onset of fluid flow. Finally, we discuss the problem of the metachronal wave in a stochastic context through an analytical calculation based on a path integral representation of our model equation.
PACS: 05.65.+b – Self-organized systems / 64.60.Cn – Order-disorder transformations; statistical mechanics of model systems / 87.16.Ka – Filaments, microtubules, their networks, and supramolecular assemblies
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2002