Autori: Bruno Bassetti(*), Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino(*), Patrizia Jona(**).

(*)Università degli Studi di Milano - Dip. di Fisica;
(**)Politecnico di Milano - Dip. di Fisica.

Recent 'in vitro' experiments show that ensembles of cytoskeletal filaments (microtubules) and molecular motors are able to self-organize. We propose a two-dimensional model in which two kinds of dynamics are competing. The first one is generated by an orientational interaction, while the second one is a local drive dependent on microtubule polarity. A configuration dependent driving field is then present. Applying a molecular field approximation to microscopic dynamics, we are able to derive continuum equations. A study of the solutions of these equations shows the existence of nonequilibrium steady states in various regions of the parameter space. The presence and stability of states of such nature are investigated in terms of entropy production. Numerical simulations confirm our results.

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