The propagation of active-passive interfaces in bacterial swarms

Alison E. Patteson (), Arvind Gopinath and Paulo E. Arratia ()
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Alison E. Patteson: University of Pennsylvania
Arvind Gopinath: University of California
Paulo E. Arratia: University of Pennsylvania

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Propagating interfaces are ubiquitous in nature, underlying instabilities and pattern formation in biology and material science. Physical principles governing interface growth are well understood in passive settings; however, our understanding of interfaces in active systems is still in its infancy. Here, we study the evolution of an active-passive interface using a model active matter system, bacterial swarms. We use ultra-violet light exposure to create compact domains of passive bacteria within Serratia marcescens swarms, thereby creating interfaces separating motile and immotile cells. Post-exposure, the boundary re-shapes and erodes due to self-emergent collective flows. We demonstrate that the active-passive boundary acts as a diffuse interface with mechanical properties set by the flow. Intriguingly, interfacial velocity couples to local swarm speed and interface curvature, raising the possibility that an active analogue to classic Gibbs-Thomson-Stefan conditions may control this boundary propagation.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07781-y

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