Physics of Light Production in Living Organisms
Bioluminescence is the ability of living organisms to produce light as a defence or communication mechanism. Some single-celled algae flash light if they are exposed to fluid flow. If the environmental conditions are right, the algae-populations grow exponentially and breaking waves at the coast can cause the organisms to flash light. We have recently discovered the mechanism of light production due to mechanical forces and are currently working on the detail of fluid flow excitation that results in the light production.
Your Research
Physics of micro-organisms and exerted forces on single-celled algae. This is an interdisciplinary work in the fields of fluid mechanics and marine biology but no previous knowledge of biology is required. The experimental work involves a team effort to make a unique experimental setup to discover the details of the flow-to-light pathway. The theory work involves the development of a system of differential equations that models the experimental observations.
Research Question:
How does ocean current results in light production?
Why light production has been developed in organisms during evolution? (a physicist approach)
Methods involved
Experiments: Confocal Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy, Microfluidics, Low-light Imaging, Image Processing
Theory: System of (linear & non-linear) ODEs, Asymptotic methods, (if interested) non-linear PDEs (with comsol multiphysics)
Literature
Jalaal et al. PRL 2020 125, 028102
about our paper on Physics Today