Bistability

Balls marked "1" and "3" are in the two stable positions

In a dynamical system, bistability means the system has two stable equilibrium states. Something that is bistable can be resting in either of two states. These rest states need not be symmetric with respect to stored energy. In terms of potential energy, a bistable system has two local minima of potential energy separated by a peak (local maximum). An example of a mechanical device which is bistable is a light switch. The switch lever is designed to rest in the "on" or "off" position, but not between the two.

In a conservative force field, bistability stems from the fact that the potential energy has three equilibrium points. Two of them are minima and one is a maximum. By mathematical arguments, the maximum must lie between the two minima. At rest, a particle will be in one of the minimum equilibrium positions, because that corresponds to the state of lowest energy. The maximum can be visualized as a barrier between them.

A system can transition from one state of minimal energy to the other if it is given enough activation energy to penetrate the barrier (compare activation energy and Arrhenius equation for the chemical case). After the barrier has been reached, the system will relax into the other minimum state in a time called the relaxation time.

Bistability is widely used in digital electronics devices to store binary data. It is the essential characteristic of the flip-flop, a circuit widely used in latches and some types of semiconductor memory. A bistable device can store one bit of binary data, with one state representing a "0" and the other state a "1". It is also used in relaxation oscillators, multivibrators, and the Schmitt trigger. Optical bistability is an attribute of certain optical devices where two resonant transmissions states are possible and stable, dependent on the input.

Mathematical modelling

In the mathematical language of dynamic systems analysis, one of the simplest bistable systems is

$\frac{dy}{dt} = y (1-y^2).$

This system describes a ball rolling down a curve with shape $\frac{y^4}{4} - \frac{y^2}{2}$, and has three steady-states: $y = 1$, $y = 0$, and $y = -1$. The middle steady-state $y=0$ is unstable, while the other two states are stable. The direction of change of $y(t)$ over time depends on the initial condition $y(0)$. If the initial condition is positive ($y(0)>0$), then the solution $y(t)$ approaches 1 over time, but if the initial condition is negative ($y(0)< 0$), then $y(t)$ approaches −1 over time. Thus, the dynamics are "bistable".

In biological and chemical systems

Bistability is key for understanding basic phenomena of cellular functioning, such as decision-making processes in cell cycle progression, cellular differentiation,^[1] and apoptosis. It is also involved in loss of cellular homeostasis associated with early events in cancer onset and in prion diseases as well as in the origin of new species (speciation).^[2]

Bistability can be generated by a positive feedback loop with an ultrasensitive regulatory step. Positive feedback loops, such as the simple X activates Y and Y activates X motif, essentially links output signals to their input signals and have been noted to be an important regulatory motif in cellular signal transduction because positive feedback loops can create switches with an all-or-nothing decision.^[3] Studies have shown that numerous biological systems, such as Xenopus oocyte maturation,^[4] mammalian calcium signal transduction, and polarity in budding yeast, incorporate temporal (slow and fast) positive feedback loops, or more than one feedback loop that occurs at different times.^[3] Having two different temporal positive feedback loops or “dual-time switches” allows for (a) increased regulation: two switches that have independent changeable activation and deactivation times; and (b) linked feedback loops on multiple timescales can filter noise.^[3]

Bistability can be modified to be more robust and to tolerate significant changes in concentrations of reactants, while still maintaining its "switch-like" character. Feedback on both the activator of a system and inhibitor make the system able to tolerate a wide range of concentrations. An example of this in cell biology is that activated CDK1 (Cyclin Dependent Kinase 1) activates its activator Cdc25 while at the same time inactivating its inactivator, Wee1, thus allowing for progression of a cell into mitosis. Without this double feedback, the system would still be bistable, but would not be able to tolerate such a wide range of concentrations.^[5]

Bistability has also been described in the embryonic development of Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly). Examples are anterior-posterior ^[6] and dorso-ventral ^[7][8] axis formation and eye development.^[9]

A prime example of bistability in biological systems is that of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), a secreted signaling molecule, which plays a critical role in development. Shh functions in diverse processes in development, including patterning limb bud tissue differentiation. The Shh signaling network behaves as a bistable switch, allowing the cell to abruptly switch states at precise Shh concentrations. gli1 and gli2 transcription is activated by Shh, and their gene products act as transcriptional activators for their own expression and for targets downstream of Shh signaling.^[10] Simultaneously, the Shh signaling network is controlled by a negative feedback loop wherein the Gli transcription factors activate the enhanced transcription of a repressor (Ptc). This signaling network illustrates the simultaneous positive and negative feedback loops whose exquisite sensitivity helps create a bistable switch.

Bistability can only arise in biological and chemical systems if three necessary conditions are fulfilled: positive feedback, a mechanism to filter out small stimuli and a mechanism to prevent explosions.^[2]

Bistable chemical systems have been studied extensively to analyze relaxation kinetics, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, stochastic resonance, as well as climate change.^[2] In bistable spatially extended systems the onset of local correlations and propagation of traveling waves have been analyzed.^[11][12]

Bistability is often accompanied by hysteresis. On a population level, if many realisations of a bistable system are considered (e.g. many bistable cells (speciation)^[13]), one typically observes bimodal distributions.

In mechanical systems

Bistability is the ability of a material to present in two stable phases that can both exist within a given range of temperatures but above and below that range only one or the other phase exists.

Bistability as applied in the design of mechanical systems is more commonly said to be "over centre"—that is, work is done on the system to move it just past the peak, at which point the mechanism goes "over centre" to its secondary stable position. The result is a toggle-type action- work applied to the system below a threshold sufficient to send it 'over center' results in no change to the mechanism's state.

Springs are a common method of achieving an "over centre" action. A spring attached to a simple two position ratchet-type mechanism can create a button or plunger that is clicked or toggled between two mechanical states. Many ballpoint and rollerball retractable pens employ this type of bistable mechanism.

An even more common example of an over-center device is an ordinary electric wall switch. These switches are often designed to snap firmly into the "on" or "off" position once the toggle handle has been moved a certain distance past the center-point.

A ratchet-and-pawl is an elaboration—a multi-stable "over center" system used to create irreversible motion. The pawl goes over center as it is turned in the forward direction. In this case, "over center" refers to the ratchet being stable and "locked" in a given position until clicked forward again; it has nothing to do with the ratchet being unable to turn in the reverse direction.

A ratchet in action. Each tooth in the ratchet together with the regions to either side of it constitutes a simple bistable mechanism.

See also

• ferroelectric, ferromagnetic, hysteresis, bistable perception
• astable multivibrator, monostable multivibrator.
• Schmitt trigger
• strong Allee effect
• Multistable perception describes the spontaneous or exogenous alternation of different percepts in face of the same physical stimulus.
• Interferometric modulator display, a bistable reflective display technology found in mirasol displays by Qualcomm

References

1. Ghaffarizadeh A, Flann NS, Podgorski GJ (2014). "Multistable switches and their role in cellular differentiation networks". BMC Bioinformatics 15: S7+. doi:10.1186/1471-2105-15-s7-s7. PMC 4110729. PMID 25078021.
2. Wilhelm, T (2009). "The smallest chemical reaction system with bistability". BMC Systems Biology 3: 90. doi:10.1186/1752-0509-3-90. PMC 2749052. PMID 19737387.
3. O. Brandman, J. E. Ferrell Jr., R. Li, T. Meyer, Science 310, 496 (2005)
4. Ferrell JE Jr., Machleder EM (1998). "The biochemical basis of an all-or-none cell fate switch in Xenopus oocytes.". Science 280 (5365): 895–8. doi:10.1126/science.280.5365.895. PMID 9572732.
5. Ferrell JE Jr. (2008). "Feedback regulation of opposing enzymes generates robust, all-or-none bistable responses" (PDF). Current Biology 18 (6): R244–R245. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.02.035.
6. Lopes, Francisco J. P.; Vieira, Fernando M. C.; Holloway, David M.; Bisch, Paulo M.; Spirov, Alexander V.; Ohler, Uwe (26 September 2008). "Spatial Bistability Generates hunchback Expression Sharpness in the Drosophila Embryo". PLOS Computational Biology 4 (9): e1000184. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000184.
7. Wang, Yu-Chiun; Ferguson, Edwin L. (10 March 2005). "Spatial bistability of Dpp–receptor interactions during Drosophila dorsal–ventral patterning". Nature 434 (7030): 229–234. doi:10.1038/nature03318.
8. Umulis, D. M.; Mihaela Serpe; Michael B. O’Connor; Hans G. Othmer (1 August 2006). "Robust, bistable patterning of the dorsal surface of the Drosophila embryo". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (31): 11613–11618. doi:10.1073/pnas.0510398103.
9. Graham, T. G. W.; Tabei, S. M. A.; Dinner, A. R.; Rebay, I. (22 June 2010). "Modeling bistable cell-fate choices in the Drosophila eye: qualitative and quantitative perspectives". Development 137 (14): 2265–2278. doi:10.1242/dev.044826.
10. Lai, K., M.J. Robertson, and D.V. Schaffer, The sonic hedgehog signaling system as a bistable genetic switch. Biophys J, 2004. 86(5): p. 2748-57.
11. Elf, J.; Ehrenberg, M. (2004). "Spontaneous separation of bi-stable biochemical systems into spatial domains of opposite phases". Systems Biology (Stevenage) 1 (2): 230–236. doi:10.1049/sb:20045021. PMID 17051695.
12. Kochanczyk, M.; Jaruszewicz, J.; Lipniacki, T. (Jul 2013). "Stochastic transitions in a bistable reaction system on the membrane". Journal of the Royal Society Interface 10 (84): 20130151. doi:10.1098/rsif.2013.0151. PMC 3673150. PMID 23635492.
13. Nielsen; Dolganov, Nadia A.; Rasmussen, Thomas; Otto, Glen; Miller, Michael C.; Felt, Stephen A.; Torreilles, Stéphanie; Schoolnik, Gary K.; et al. (2010). Isberg, Ralph R., ed. "A Bistable Switch and Anatomical Site Control Vibrio cholerae Virulence Gene Expression in the Intestine". PLOS Pathogens 6 (9): 1. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1001102. PMC 2940755. PMID 20862321.

External links

• http://www.answers.com/topic/optical-bistability
• BiStable Reed Sensor