Hydrodynamic synchronization of spontaneously beating filaments

Abstract

Using a geometric feedback model of the flagellar axoneme accounting for dynein motor kinetics, we study elastohydrodynamic phase synchronization in a pair of spontaneously beating filaments with waveforms ranging from sperm to cilia and Chlamydomonas. Our computations reveal that both in-phase and anti-phase synchrony can emerge for asymmetric beats while symmetric waveforms go in-phase, and elucidate the mechanism for phase slips due to biochemical noise. Model predictions agree with recent experiments and illuminate the crucial roles of hydrodynamics and mechanochemical feedback in synchronization.

13 pages, 11 figures, 3 supporting movies