Rowers coupled hydrodynamically. Modeling possible mechanisms for the cooperation of cilia

Abstract

We introduce a model system of stochastic entities, called 'rowers' which include some essentialities of the behavior of real cilia. We introduce and discuss the problem of symmetry breaking for these objects and its connection with the onset of macroscopic, directed flow in the fluid. We perform a mean field-like calculation showing that hydrodynamic interaction may provide for the symmetry breaking mechanism and the onset of fluid flow. Finally, we discuss the problem of the metachronal wave in a stochastic context.