Active nematics: fluctuations and coarsening

ORAL

Abstract

Nonequilibrium steady states with spontaneous nematic order are known to arise in collections of amoeboid cells as well as granular-rod monolayers. Recent studies [EPL 62 (2003) 196-202; PRL 96, 180602 (2006); PRL 97 (2006) 090602; Science 317 (2007) 105] have established that these states differ radically from thermal equilibrium systems of the same spatial symmetry. This talk will present results from our studies of microscopic as well as coarse-grained models of active nematics, highlighting the unique, fluctuation-dominated character of coarsening in these systems.

Authors

  • Sriram Ramaswamy

    CCMT, Dept. of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012., CCMT, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, CCMT, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012 INDIA

  • Shradha Mishra

    CCMT, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, INDIA

  • Francesco Ginelli

    Service de Physique de l'Etat Condense', CEA/Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FRANCE

  • Hugues Chate

    Service de Physique de l'Etat Condense', CEA/Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FRANCE

  • Sanjay Puri

    School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, INDIA