Work

Dynamics of an active chiral polymer in shear flow

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We explore the complex formation of an active flexible polymer chain in linear shear flow by using monomer-resolved Brownian dynamics simulations in two spatial dimensions. The chiral head monomer is active and circling, while all other monomers are passive, following both the motion of the head polymer and the shear flow. By the combination of activity, chirality, and shear rate, a wealth of different states are found, including the formation of a linear/complex folding and a spiraling state with both head-in and head-out morphologies. As the vorticity of the applied shear competes with the circling sense of the head, the chirality of the whole complex can be tuned by activity. Our results are relevant to characterize the response of living and artificial chiral active polymer chains to complex flow fields.

Source: The Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI: 10.1063/5.0268723

Authors: A. Gülce Bayram, Luca Biancofiore, Hartmut Löwen

Institutions: Bilkent University, University of L'Aquila, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Language: English

Topic: Micro and Nano Robotics

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions