Issue 21, 2024

Topological defects in multi-layered swarming bacteria

Abstract

Topological defects, which are singular points in a director field, play a major role in shaping active systems. Here, we experimentally study topological defects and the flow patterns around them, that are formed during the highly rapid dynamics of swarming bacteria. The results are compared to the predictions of two-dimensional active nematics. We show that, even though some of the assumptions underlying the theory do not hold, the swarm dynamics is in agreement with two-dimensional nematic theory. In particular, we look into the multi-layered structure of the swarm, which is an important feature of real, natural colonies, and find a strong coupling between layers. Our results suggest that the defect-charge density is hyperuniform, i.e., that long range density-fluctuations are suppressed.

Graphical abstract: Topological defects in multi-layered swarming bacteria

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jan 2024
Accepted
06 May 2024
First published
15 May 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Soft Matter, 2024,20, 4237-4245

Topological defects in multi-layered swarming bacteria

V. Yashunsky, D. J. G. Pearce, G. Ariel and A. Be’er, Soft Matter, 2024, 20, 4237 DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00038B

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