• Event Date: February 24, 2021
  • Event Start Time: 10:45 AM
  • Event End Time: 11:45 AM
  • Event Type: Mathematical Physics Webinar
  • Event Location: zoom
  • Contact: Julia M Yeomans - University of Oxford

Abstract: Active materials such as bacteria, molecular motors and eukaryotic cells continuously transform chemical energy taken from their surroundings to mechanical work. Dense active matter shows mesoscale turbulence, the emergence of chaotic flow structures characterised by high vorticity and self-propelled topological defects. I shall describe the physics of active defects, discussing active microfluidics, active disclinations and examples of topological defects in biological systems.