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arXiv · 1302.6732

Velocity Correlations in an Active Nematic

Sumesh P. Thampi·Ramin Golestanian·Julia M. Yeomans
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Abstract

The flow properties of a continuum model for an active nematic is studied and compared with recent experiments on suspensions of microtubule bundles and molecular motors. The velocity correlation length is found to be independent of the strength of the activity while the characteristic velocity scale increases monotonically as the activity is increased, both in agreement with the experimental observations. We interpret our results in terms of the creation and annihilation dynamics of a gas of topological defects.

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Sumesh P. Thampi, Ramin Golestanian, Julia M. Yeomans. 2013-02-27. Velocity Correlations in an Active Nematic. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.111.118101

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