Generic theory of active polar gels: a paradigm for cytoskeletal dynamics
Résumé
We develop a general theory for active viscoelastic materials madeof polar filaments. This theory is motivated by the dynamics of the cytoskeleton. The continuous consumption of a fuel leads to a non equilibrium statecharacterized bythe generation of flows and stresses. Our theory can be applied toexperiments in which cytoskeletal patterns are set in motionby active processes such as those which are at work in cells.