Theoretical and numerical models and methods to study and understand complex soft matter and biomimetic and biological systems -- on the basis of physical principles -- are developed in the group of Gerhard Gompper. Here, the addressed issues range from the structure and dynamics of synthetic and biological macromolecules, the interactions of proteins and nanoparticles with membranes, and the shapes and deformations of (blood) cells under flow, to the non-equilibrium dynamics of the cytoskeleton, the motion and flow generation of microswimmers (like bacteria, sperm, cilia, and artificial self-propelled particles), and growing tissues. A significant part of the investigations is performed by large-scale numerical simulations on super-computers. In particular, mesoscale hydrodynamics simulation techniques are utilized to capture the dynamics of systems in aqueous environments.

Selected publications

1. Network models of fluid, hexatic and polymerized membranes
   G Gompper, DM Kroll
   J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 9, 8795 (1997)
2. Shape transitions of fluid vesicles and red blood cells in capillary flows
   H Noguchi, G Gompper
   Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102, 14159-14164 (2005)
3. Multi-particle collision dynamics: A particle-based mesoscale simulation approach to the hydrodynamics of complex fluids
   G Gompper, T Ihle, DM Kroll, RG Winkler
   Adv. Polym. Sci. 221, 1-87 (2009)
4. Wall accumulation of self-propelled spheres
   J Elgeti, G Gompper
   EPL (Europhysics Letters) 101, 48003 (2013)
5. Multiscale modeling of blood flow: from single cells to blood rheology
   DA Fedosov, H Noguchi, G Gompper
   Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol. 13, 239-258 (2014)
6. Shape and orientation matter for the cellular uptake of nonspherical particles
   S Dasgupta, T Auth, G Gompper
   Nano letters 14, 687-693 (2014)
7. Physics of Microswimmers--Single Particle Motion and Collective Behavior: a review
   J Elgeti, RG Winkler, G Gompper
   Rep. Prog. Phys. 78, 056601 (2015)
8. Physical Sensing of Surface Properties by Microswimmers–Directing Bacterial Motion via Wall Slip
   J Hu, A Wysocki, RG Winkler, G Gompper
   Scientific reports 5, 9586 (2015)
9. Equilibrium physics breakdown reveals the active nature of red blood cell flickering
   H Turlier, DA Fedosov, B Audoly, T Auth, NS Gov, C Sykes, JF Joanny, G Gompper, T Betz
   Nature Physics 12, 513-519 (2016)
10. Nano- and Microparticles at Fluid and Biological Interfaces
    S Dasgupta, T Auth, G Gompper
    J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 29, 373003 (2017)