Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 14: Poster Session II

BP 14.8: Poster

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 18:00–21:00, P2

Structural Analysis of Cyanobacterial Monolayers — •Rodewald Lars and Karpitschka Stefan — Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, Germany

Cyanobacteria are interesting organisms from several perspectives e.g., due to their ecological importance and biotechnical potential but also as model active matter systems as they constitute active polymers that exhibit a wide variety of collective behavior.

Here we investigate dense quasi-2-dimensional layers of filaments and analyze the patterns that emerge from their motility and mutual interactions. In contrast to molecular systems here the complete microstate of the system can be accessed by optical microscopy, which allows for a more complete understanding and description of the global dynamics and structures including nematic and polar order parameters and defect formation.

In this contribution we discuss the design of a confining structure to generate monolayers while providing a healthy environment allowing for long term experiments. Using this structure we investigate the impact of light intensity on the behavior of the individual cyanobacteria and therefore the structures present the associated emerging order in the monolayer.

Keywords: Monolayer; Cyanobacteria; Active Polymers