Dresden 2017 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 23: Posters - Statistical Physics of Biological Systems

BP 23.11: Poster

Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 14:00–16:00, P1A

Non-Equilibrium Dynamics in Critical Biological Networks — •Federico Gnesotto and Chase Broedersz — Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, D-80333 München, Germany

Biological networks such as the actin cytoskeleton of a cell are inherently out of equilibrium. ATP-driven molecular motors constantly exert local stochastic forces on the fibers in these networks, thereby driving them into a non-equilibrium steady state. Recent studies have proposed that such systems might be posed near a mechanical stability (isostatic) threshold, where the system exhibits critical behavior.

To investigate how this criticality affects the non-equilibrium dynamics of such marginal networks, we propose a minimal model of a diluted triangular lattice with tunable connectivity and local motor activity. With this model we study how non-equilibrium behavior manifests on different length scales.

This minimal framework allows us not only to capture interesting non-equilibrium features, but also to intuitively understand the underlying mechanisms.