Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow

Hydrodynamic coordination of cilia is ubiquitous in biology. It is commonly modeled using the steady Stokes equations. The flow around ciliated cells, however, exhibits finite-time vorticity diffusion, requiring a dynamical description. We present a model of elastic cilia coupled by unsteady viscous...

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Main Authors: Albert von Kenne, Sonja Schmelter, Holger Stark, Markus Bär
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-02-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012029
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author Albert von Kenne
Sonja Schmelter
Holger Stark
Markus Bär
author_facet Albert von Kenne
Sonja Schmelter
Holger Stark
Markus Bär
author_sort Albert von Kenne
collection DOAJ
description Hydrodynamic coordination of cilia is ubiquitous in biology. It is commonly modeled using the steady Stokes equations. The flow around ciliated cells, however, exhibits finite-time vorticity diffusion, requiring a dynamical description. We present a model of elastic cilia coupled by unsteady viscous flow in the bulk fluid. Therein, vorticity diffusion impacts cilia coordination qualitatively and quantitatively. In particular, pairs of cilia synchronize in antiphase for long diffusion times. Moreover, metachronal waves occur in cilia chains larger than the viscous penetration depth, whereas global synchronization occurs in Stokes flow.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2643-1564
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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spelling doaj-art-7dcd5aff5a7543d0854e337e3b6d520b2025-02-06T15:01:21ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-02-0171L01202910.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012029Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flowAlbert von KenneSonja SchmelterHolger StarkMarkus BärHydrodynamic coordination of cilia is ubiquitous in biology. It is commonly modeled using the steady Stokes equations. The flow around ciliated cells, however, exhibits finite-time vorticity diffusion, requiring a dynamical description. We present a model of elastic cilia coupled by unsteady viscous flow in the bulk fluid. Therein, vorticity diffusion impacts cilia coordination qualitatively and quantitatively. In particular, pairs of cilia synchronize in antiphase for long diffusion times. Moreover, metachronal waves occur in cilia chains larger than the viscous penetration depth, whereas global synchronization occurs in Stokes flow.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012029
spellingShingle Albert von Kenne
Sonja Schmelter
Holger Stark
Markus Bär
Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
Physical Review Research
title Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
title_full Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
title_fullStr Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
title_full_unstemmed Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
title_short Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
title_sort synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by unsteady viscous flow
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012029
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AT sonjaschmelter synchronizationandmetachronalwavesofelasticciliacausedbyunsteadyviscousflow
AT holgerstark synchronizationandmetachronalwavesofelasticciliacausedbyunsteadyviscousflow
AT markusbar synchronizationandmetachronalwavesofelasticciliacausedbyunsteadyviscousflow