A phase diagram for bacterial swarming

摘要: Bacterial swarming is a rapid mass-migration, in which thousands of cells spread collectively to colonize surfaces. Physically, natural example for active particles that use energy generate motion. Accordingly, understanding the constraints physics imposes on these dynamics essential mechanisms underlying swarming. We present new experiments Bacillus subtilis mutants with different aspect ratios and at densities; two physical quantities known be associated collective behavior. Analyzing reveals rich phase diagram qualitatively distinct regimes, describing how cell shape population density govern dynamical characteristics swarm. In particular, we show under standard conditions, bacteria inhabit region space mixing robust dynamics, homogeneous density no preferred direction The results suggest have adapted their properties to optimize principle functions assumed Swarming ubiquitous behaviour living systems, emerging from local interactions. Here, authors exploit genetic mutations experimentally characterize phases emerge as function shape bacteria.