Finger Formation in Biofilm Layers

Abstract

A simple single substrate limiting model of a growing biofilm layer is presented. One-dimensional moving front solutions are analyzed. Under certain conditions these solutions are shown to be linearly unstable to fingering instabilities. Scaling laws for the biofilm growth rate and length scale are derived. The nonlinear evolution of the fingering instabilities is tracked numerically using a level set method, leading to the observation of mushroom-like structures.