We develop a percolation model motivated by recent experimental studies of gels with active network remodeling by molecular motors. This remodeling was found to lead to a critical state reminiscent of random percolation (RP), but with a cluster distribution inconsistent with RP. Our model not only can account for these experiments, but also exhibits an unusual type of mixed phase transition: We find that the transition is characterized by signatures of criticality, but with a discontinuity in the order parameter.

APS
doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.098104
Phys. Rev. Lett.
Biological Soft Matter-Former Group

Sheinman, M., Sharma, A., Alvarado, J., Koenderink, G., & MacKintosh, F. (2015). Anomalous discontinuity at the percolation critical point of active gels. Phys.Rev.Lett., 114(9, Article number: 98104), 1–8. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.098104