Reentrant Rigidity Transition in Planar Epithelia with Volume and Area Elasticity
Abstract
We find a reentrant columnar-to-squamous rigidity transition in three-dimensional (3D) epithelia, governed by volume and area elasticity. Our model maps to the classic 2D area- and perimeter-elasticity model but, unlike its 2D counterpart, shows compression-induced softening or stiffening, depending on the initial state. The phase diagram reveals floppy states with vanishing shear and in-plane bulk moduli, alongside a lateral-tension-driven discontinuous columnar-to-squamous transition. The critical behavior underlying the emergence of the reentrant transition belongs to the mean-field universality class.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Materials and Mechanics
Theoretical and Computational Physics
Block Copolymer Self-Assembly
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 136
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 068404–068404
- Publication date
- 22 January 2026
- Language
- EN