Interactions and Correlations of Particulate Inclusions in a Columnar Phase

We calculate the elastic field mediated interaction between macroscopic particles in a columnar hexagonal phase. The interaction is found to be long-ranged and non-central, with both attractive and repulsive parts. We show how the interaction modifies the particle correlations and the column fluctuations. We also calculate the interaction of particles with the topological defects of the columnar phase. The particle-defect interaction reduces the mobility of the defects.Comment: RevTeX4 8 pages, 4 eps figures, submitted to Euro. Phys. J.

A geometric formulation of Schaefer's theory of Cosserat solids

The Cosserat solid is a theoretical model of a continuum whose elementary constituents are notional rigid bodies. Here we present a formulation of the mechanics of a Cosserat solid in the language of modern differential geometry and exterior calculus, motivated by Schaefer's "motor field" theory. The solid is modelled as a principal fibre bundle and configurations are related by translations and rotations of each constituent. This kinematic property is described in a coordinate-independent manner by a bundle map. Configurations are equivalent if this bundle map is a global Euclidean isometry. Inequivalent configurations, representing deformations of the solid, are characterised by the local structure of the bundle map. Using Cartan's magic formula we show that the strain associated with infinitesimal deformations is the Lie derivative of a connection one-form on the bundle, revealing it to be a Lie algebra-valued one-form. Extending Schaefer's theory, we derive the finite strain by integrating the infinitesimal strain along a prescribed path. This is path independent when the curvature of the connection one-form is zero. Path dependence signals the presence of topological defects and the non-zero curvature is then recognised as the density of topological defects. Mechanical stresses are defined by a virtual work principle in which the Lie algebra-valued strain one-form is paired with a dual Lie algebra-valued stress two-form to yield a scalar work volume form. The d'Alembert principle for the work form provides the balance laws, which is shown to be integrable for a hyperelastic Cosserat solid. The breakdown of integrability, relevant to active oriented solids, is briefly examined. Our work elucidates the geometric structure of Cosserat solids, aids in constitutive modelling of active oriented materials, and suggests structure-preserving integration schemes.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

Diffusivity dependence of the transition path ensemble

Transition pathways of stochastic dynamical systems are typically approximated by instantons. Here we show, using a dynamical system containing two competing pathways, that at low-to-intermediate temperatures, instantons can fail to capture the most likely transition pathways. We construct an approximation which includes fluctuations around the instanton and, by comparing with the results of an accurate and efficient path-space Monte Carlo sampling method, find this approximation to hold for a wide range of temperatures. Our work delimits the applicability of large deviation theory and provides methods to probe these limits numerically.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Internal friction controls active ciliary oscillations near the instability threshold.

Ciliary oscillations driven by molecular motors cause fluid motion at micron scale. Stable oscillations require a substantial source of dissipation to balance the energy input of motors. Conventionally, it stems from external fluid. We show, in contrast, that external fluid friction is negligible compared to internal elastic stress through a simultaneous measurement of motion and flow field of an isolated and active Chlamydomonas cilium beating near the instability threshold. Consequently, internal friction emerges as the sole source of dissipation for ciliary oscillations. We combine these experimental insights with theoretical modeling of active filaments to show that an instability to oscillations takes place when active stresses are strain softening and shear thinning. Together, our results reveal a counterintuitive mechanism of ciliary beating and provide a general experimental and theoretical methodology to analyze other active filaments, both biological and synthetic ones