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Shear flow induced isotropic to nematic transition in a suspension of active filaments

Sudipto Muhuri·Madan Rao·Sriram Ramaswamy
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Abstract

We study the effects of externally applied shear flow on a model of suspensions of motors and filaments, via the equations of active hydrodynamics [PRL {\bf 89} (2002) 058101; {\bf 92} (2004) 118101]. In the absence of shear, the orientationally ordered phase of {\it both} polar and apolar active particles is always unstable at zero-wavenumber. An imposed steady shear large enough to overcome the active stresses stabilises both apolar and moving polar phases. Our work is relevant to {\it in vitro} studies of active filaments, the reorientation of endothelial cells subject to shear flow and shear-induced motility of attached cells.

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Sudipto Muhuri, Madan Rao, Sriram Ramaswamy. 2006-10-01. Shear flow induced isotropic to nematic transition in a suspension of active filaments. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075%2F78%2F48002

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