Fabio Cecconi — CNR-Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi #
Beating Dynamics of Semiflexible Flagella Under Traveling-Wave Perturbations #
Flagella and cilia play a crucial role in microscale fluid dynamics, powering the motion of cells and driving flows in biological systems. In this talk, we present a theoretical framework to understand how semiflexible filaments respond to traveling-wave perturbations that mimic the action of molecular motors. By modeling the flagellum as a worm-like chain (WLC), we explore the competition between active forcing and intrinsic bending rigidity, revealing how this interplay selects spatiotemporal beating patterns akin to those observed in sperm tails, Chlamydomonas cilia, and eukaryotic flagella in general. Through a systematic analysis of the WLC's response, we identify the key physical parameters that shape flagellar motion and discuss their implications for biological propulsion and artificial microswimmers. Our findings offer a simple mathematical interpretation of the fundamental elements governing active filament dynamics in complex fluid environments.