microtubules

Imposed flow in active liquid crystals

Inspired by ongoing experiments on three dimensional active gels composed of sliding microtubule bundles, we study a few idealized problems in a minimal hydrodynamic model for active liquid crystals. Our aim is to use flow to determine the value of the coefficient of activity in a continuum theory. We consider the case of apolar active particles that form a disordered phase in the absence of flow, and study how activity affects the swimming speed of a prescribed swimmer, as well as the stability of a fluid interface. We also consider flows of active matter in channels or past immersed objects.