Physarum polycephalum percolation as a paradigm for topological phase transitions in transportation networks

Adrian Fessel, Christina Oettmeier, Erik Bernitt, Nils C. Gauthier, Hans Günther Döbereiner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the formation of transportation networks of the true slime mold Physarum polycephalum after fragmentation by shear. Small fragments, called microplasmodia, fuse to form macroplasmodia in a percolation transition. At this topological phase transition, one single giant component forms, connecting most of the previously isolated microplasmodia. Employing the configuration model of graph theory for small link degree, we have found analytically an exact solution for the phase transition. It is generally applicable to percolation as seen, e.g., in vascular networks.

Original languageEnglish
Article number078103
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume109
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Aug 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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