Journal article icon

Journal article

Active nematics

Abstract:
Active matter extracts energy from its surroundings at the single particle level and transforms it into mechanical work. Examples include cytoskeleton biopolymers and bacterial suspensions. Here, we review experimental, theoretical and numerical studies of active nematics - a type of active system that is characterised by self-driven units with elongated shape. We focus primarily on microtubule-kinesin mixtures and the hydrodynamic theories that describe their properties. An important theme is active turbulence and the associated motile topological defects. We discuss ways in which active turbulence may be controlled, a pre-requisite to harvesting energy from active materials, and we consider the appearance, and possible implications, of active nematics and topological defects to cellular systems and biological processes.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

Actions


Access Document


Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-018-05666-8

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Theoretical Physics
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-1116-4268
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS Division
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Theoretical Physics
Role:
Author



Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
9
Issue:
2018
Article number:
3246
Publication date:
2018-08-21
Acceptance date:
2018-07-19
DOI:
ISSN:
2041-1723
Pmid:
30131558


Language:
English
Pubs id:
pubs:909900
UUID:
uuid:d6f845aa-de0c-45a0-b99e-00477af885d6
Local pid:
pubs:909900
Source identifiers:
909900
Deposit date:
2018-08-27

Terms of use



Views and Downloads






If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record

TO TOP