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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 43: Active Matter IV (joint session DY/BP/CPP)

DY 43.7: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:30–12:00, BH-N 334

Growth and division as drivers of complex dynamics in dense cellular matter — •Philip Bittihn — Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany — Institute for the Dynamics of Complex Systems, University of Göttingen, Germany

Cells in systems such as tissues, bacterial aggregates, embryonic development or tumors self-organize on large scales to fulfil their biological functions. Many such collective behaviors have been studied in the broader context of active matter, where they emerge from the intrinsic non-equilibrium activity of the constituent particles. Growth and division as drivers of activity have received less attention, although they are defining features of life and often play indispensable roles.

Here, I will describe some of our recent theoretical efforts in characterizing their effects in dense cellular matter. Using minimal models of mechanically interacting particles, we investigate scenarios in which growth and division either lead to large-scale flows and volume expansion or total volume is conserved. By developing statistical descriptions suited for non-conserved particle numbers, we find that certain components of particle motion follow simple scaling laws that can be related to macroscopic flows or to classical active particle models. Other features of the dynamics reveal new phenomena and transitions due to growth-induced pressure, confinement and anisotropic particle shapes. If time permits, I will outline interactions with motility or chemical activity. Overall, our results aim to establish universal physical principles as a baseline for experimental observations and provide design strategies for bio(technological) applications or artificial systems.

Keywords: dense active matter; cellular matter; growth; biological physics; agent-based simulations