Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 3: Cell Motility I

AKB 3.4: Talk

Monday, March 27, 2006, 12:30–12:45, ZEU 255

Hydrodynamic flow patterns and synchronization of beating cilia — •Andrej Vilfan¹ and Frank Jülicher² — ¹J. Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia — ²MPIPKS, Nöthnitzer Str. 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany

We study the dynamics of hydrodynamically interacting cilia by means of a minimal physical model, representing cilia as particles on tilted elliptical trajectories. We first calculate the hydrodynamic flow field generated far from a cilium which is attached to a surface and beats periodically. In the case of two beating cilia, we show that hydrodynamic interactions can lead to synchronization of the cilia. We present a state diagram where synchronized states occur as a function of distance of cilia and the relative orientation of their beat. Synchronized states occur with different relative phases. In addition, asynchronous solutions exist. Our model provides a basis for the explanation of metachronal waves in microorganisms and ciliated tissues.