Hamburg 2001 – scientific programme

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DY: Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 15: Statistische Physik in biologischen Systemen I

DY 15.2: Talk

Monday, March 26, 2001, 15:00–15:15, S 7

CA model for Myxobacterial rippling — •Uwe Börner, Markus Bär, and Andreas Deutsch — Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Str. 38, 01187 Dresden

Dynamic ripple patterns appear in the aggregation of Myxobacteria. A principal component analysis of experimental data shows that these patterns are well described as standing waves. We present a cellular automaton (CA) model of rippling pattern formation based on orientation-dependent cell-cell-interaction and a non-sensitive phase with respect to reversal. The duration of this refractory phase is the only significant parameter and determines the ripple wavelength. We can model the formation of the macroscopic pattern but also the typical single cell behavior on the microscopic level. From this perspective the CA is an adequate model. Apart from direct simulations, wavelength and period of the ripples are determined by linear stability analysis of a set of deterministic rate equations.