Bistable Helices

Raymond E. Goldstein, Alain Goriely, Greg Huber, and Charles W. Wolgemuth
Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1631 – Published 14 February 2000
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Abstract

We extend elasticity theory of filaments to encompass systems, such as bacterial flagella, that display competition between two helical structures of opposite chirality. A general, fully intrinsic formulation of the dynamics of bend and twist degrees of freedom is developed using the natural frame of space curves, spanning from the inviscid limit to the viscously overdamped regime applicable to cellular biology. Aspects of front propagation found in flagella are discussed.

  • Received 19 October 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.1631

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Raymond E. Goldstein1,2, Alain Goriely2,3, Greg Huber1, and Charles W. Wolgemuth1

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
  • 2Program in Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
  • 3Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721

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Vol. 84, Iss. 7 — 14 February 2000

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