804 research outputs found
The Mechanics and Statistics of Active Matter
Active particles contain internal degrees of freedom with the ability to take
in and dissipate energy and, in the process, execute systematic movement.
Examples include all living organisms and their motile constituents such as
molecular motors. This article reviews recent progress in applying the
principles of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and hydrodynamics to form a
systematic theory of the behaviour of collections of active particles -- active
matter -- with only minimal regard to microscopic details. A unified view of
the many kinds of active matter is presented, encompassing not only living
systems but inanimate analogues. Theory and experiment are discussed side by
side.Comment: This review is to appear in volume 1 of the Annual Review of
Condensed Matter Physics in July 2010 and is posted here with permission from
that journa
Analysis of direct segregated boundary-domain integral equations for variable-coefficient mixed bvps in exterior domains
This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2013 World Scientific Publishing.Direct segregated systems of boundary-domain integral equations are formulated for the mixed (Dirichlet–Neumann) boundary value problems for a scalar second-order divergent elliptic partial differential equation with a variable coefficient in an exterior three-dimensional domain. The boundary-domain integral equation system equivalence to the original boundary value problems and the Fredholm properties and invertibility of the corresponding boundary-domain integral operators are analyzed in weighted Sobolev spaces suitable for infinite domains. This analysis is based on the corresponding properties of the BVPs in weighted Sobolev spaces that are proved as well.The work was supported by the grant EP/H020497/1 \Mathematical analysis of localised boundary-domain integral equations for BVPs with variable coefficients" of the EPSRC, UK
Carbon Tetrachloride as Thermoporometry Liquid-probe to Study the Cross linking of Styrene Copolymer Networks
Mesh Size Distributions (MSDs) of swollen cross linked styrene copolymer networks have been measured by thermoporometry using CCl4 as a probe liquid. All numerical relationships required for the calculation of the MSD were established for both the liquid-to-solid and the solid-to-solid thermal transitions of CCl4 and successfully validated on test samples. It was found that the polymer network, for both thermally and photo-cross linked materials, was completely built in about four hours of exposure. A clear correlation was established between the average mesh size of the swollen polymer network on the one hand and the benzoyl peroxide groups content and swelling ratio on the other hand
Enhanced reaction kinetics in biological cells
The cell cytoskeleton is a striking example of "active" medium driven
out-of-equilibrium by ATP hydrolysis. Such activity has been shown recently to
have a spectacular impact on the mechanical and rheological properties of the
cellular medium, as well as on its transport properties : a generic tracer
particle freely diffuses as in a standard equilibrium medium, but also
intermittently binds with random interaction times to motor proteins, which
perform active ballistic excursions along cytoskeletal filaments. Here, we
propose for the first time an analytical model of transport limited reactions
in active media, and show quantitatively how active transport can enhance
reactivity for large enough tracers like vesicles. We derive analytically the
average interaction time with motor proteins which optimizes the reaction rate,
and reveal remarkable universal features of the optimal configuration. We
discuss why active transport may be beneficial in various biological examples:
cell cytoskeleton, membranes and lamellipodia, and tubular structures like
axons.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure
Dynamic concentration of motors in microtubule arrays
We present experimental and theoretical studies of the dynamics of molecular
motors in microtubule arrays and asters. By solving a convection-diffusion
equation we find that the density profile of motors in a two-dimensional aster
is characterized by continuously varying exponents. Simulations are used to
verify the assumptions of the continuum model. We observe the concentration
profiles of kinesin moving in quasi two-dimensional artificial asters by
fluorescent microscopy and compare with our theoretical results.Comment: 4pages, 4 figures revte
Anomalous fluctuations of active polar filaments
Using a simple model, we study the fluctuating dynamics of inextensible,
semiflexible polar filaments interacting with active and directed force
generating centres such as molecular motors. Taking into account the fact that
the activity occurs on time-scales comparable to the filament relaxation time,
we obtain some unexpected differences between both the steady-state and
dynamical behaviour of active as compared to passive filaments. For the
statics, the filaments have a {novel} length-scale dependent rigidity.
Dynamically, we find strongly enhanced anomalous diffusion.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Measurement of air fluorescence light yield induced by an electromagnetic shower
For most of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) experiments and projects (HiRes, AUGER, TA, JEM-EUSO, TUS,...), the detection technique of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) is based, at least, on the measurement of the air fluorescence induced signal. The knowledge of the Fluorescence Light Yield (FLY) is of paramount importance for the UHECR energy reconstruction. The MACFLY experiment was designed to perform such FLY measurements. In this paper we will present the results of dry air FLY induced by 50 GeV electromagnetic showers as a function of shower age and as a function of the pressure. The experiment was performed at CERN using an SPS electron test beam line. It is shown that the FLY is proportional to deposited energy in air (E_d) and that the ratio FLY/E_d and its pressure dependence remain constant independently of shower age and more generally independently of the excitation source used (single electron track or air shower).For most of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) experiments and projects (HiRes, AUGER, TA, JEM-EUSO, TUS,...), the detection technique of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) is based, at least, on the measurement of the air fluorescence induced signal. The knowledge of the Fluorescence Light Yield (FLY) is of paramount importance for the UHECR energy reconstruction. The MACFLY experiment was designed to perform such FLY measurements. In this paper we will present the results of dry air FLY induced by 50 GeV electromagnetic showers as a function of shower age and as a function of the pressure. The experiment was performed at CERN using an SPS electron test beam line. It is shown that the FLY is proportional to deposited energy in air (E_d) and that the ratio FLY/E_d and its pressure dependence remain constant independently of shower age and more generally independently of the excitation source used (single electron track or air shower)
Validation of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder O-3 and CO observations in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere
International audienceGlobal satellite observations of ozone and carbon monoxide from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on the EOS Aura spacecraft are discussed with emphasis on those observations in the 215–100 hPa region (the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere). The precision, resolution and accuracy of the data produced by the MLS “version 2.2” processing algorithms are discussed and quantified. O3 accuracy is estimated at ~40 ppbv +5% (~20 ppbv +20% at 215 hPa) while the CO accuracy is estimated at ~30 ppbv +30% for pressures of 147 hPa and less. Comparisons with expectations and other observations show good agreements for the O3 product, generally consistent with the systematic errors quoted above. In the case of CO, a persistent factor of ~2 high bias is seen at 215 hPa. However, the morphology is shown to be realistic, consistent with raw MLS radiance data, and useful for scientific study. The MLS CO data at higher altitudes are shown to be consistent with other observations
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