Kink propagation in the Artificial Axon

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California - Los Angeles, CA, USA

^(a) zocchi@physics.ucla.edu (corresponding author)

Received: 24 August 2021
Accepted: 20 December 2021

Abstract

The Artificial Axon is a unique synthetic system, based on biomolecular components, which supports action potentials. Here we consider, theoretically, the corresponding space extended system, and discuss the occurrence of solitary waves, or kinks. Such structures are indeed observed in living systems. In contrast to action potentials, stationary kinks are possible. We point out an analogy with the interface separating two condensed matter phases, though our kinks are always non-equilibrium, dissipative structures, even when stationary.