SURVIVAL-EXTINCTION TRANSITION IN BACTERIA GROWTH

I study an ensemble of bacteria colonies. Finite-size colonies always die out. Their lifetime t1 is either size independent or exponentially increases with size. In the latter case, their lifetime mean quadrati c fluctuation deltat is large compared to their representative average lifetime tBAR = exp [[ln t1]], [...] denotes the ensemble average. Th e extinction-survival phase transition from finite to infinite tBAR is accompanied by the phase transition. These results are common for spr eading-percolation phenomena.