Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Mass-Sensitive Particle Tracking to Characterize Membrane-Associated Macromolecule Dynamics
Published on: February 18, 2022
Characterization and control of a bottleneck-induced traffic-jam transition for self-propelled particles in a track
Thomas Barois1, Jean-François Boudet1, Nicolas Lanchon1
1Université Bordeaux, CNRS, LOMA, UMR 5798, F-33405 Talence, France.
Abstract:
A collection of self-propelled elongated particles is circulating in a circular track. Due to the presence of a bottleneck, the flow transits to a congested state for a sufficient number of particles, even if the whole track is not saturated. Both experiments and simulations are used to identify the transition toward congestion. An intermediate regime of coexistence is characterized by intermittency between a free flow state and a jammed state. The range of the coexistence region is found to depend explicitly on fluctuating quantities such as the distribution of the escape times from a jam and the headway time distribution between free particles. Optimization strategies, such as the "slower is faster" effect, are tested in experiments and simulations, and an increase in the traffic performances is reported.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Membrane Traffic
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
Phase Transitions
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Precipitate Formation and Particle Size Control
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
Properties of Transition Metals
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

