Emergence of metachronal waves in cilia arrays: a hydrodynamic mechanism.

Abstract

This work reports the emergence of metachronal waves in cilia arrays immersed in a two-fluid environment using a coupled lattice Boltzmann - Immersed Boundary method. The periciliary layer (PCL) is confined between the wall and the mucus layer. Its depth is chosen in such a way that the tips of the cilia can penetrate the mucus layer. The cilia are initially set in a random state but quickly synchronize with their immediate neighbors with a phase shift giving birth to sympleptic or antipleptic metachronal waves, depending on the strength of the fluid retroaction onto the cilia. Antiplectic waves are found to be the most efficient to transport mucus compared to other random or synchronised cilia motions.