Figure 4.

A mechanical pathway to entrainment. An incident MT encounters a barrier MT at an approach angle θ. The incident MT is slightly bent due to thermal fluctuations and, at the point of intersection, makes an angle θ_X with the barrier MT. (Inset) Cross-linkers (red online) attach two intersecting MTs. The cross-linkers vary in length, l_i ∈ [l₀, l_M] and are spaced δ apart. Distance along the bisector to the i^th cross-linker is x_i.