Work

Deformable microswimmer in an external force field

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: External forces, such as gravity, influence swimming microorganisms. For flagellar microorganisms, such as Chlamydomonas, gravitactic swimming has been attributed to back-heaviness. Using a simple bead-spring microswimmer model, we show that back-heaviness is not necessary for the gravitactic swimming of flagellar microorganisms. The hydrodynamic interaction among beads results in the alignment of swimming direction with external force. By modulating flagellar beating patterns a microorganism can also change its swimming direction. This understanding can aid in the design of robotic swimmers.

Source: Physical Review Fluids

DOI: 10.1103/physrevfluids.5.033101

Authors: Mohd Suhail Rizvi, Philippe Peyla, Alexander Farutin, Chaouqi Misbah

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, Université Grenoble Alpes

Language: English

Topic: Micro and Nano Robotics

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales

Award: G6415750302