Nonlinear dynamics of a microswimmer in Poiseuille flow

We study the three-dimensional dynamics of a spherical microswimmer in cylindrical Poiseuille flow which can be mapped onto a Hamiltonian system. Swinging and tumbling trajectories are identified. In 2D they are equivalent to oscillating and circling solutions of a mathematical pendulum. Hydrodynami...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 108; no. 21; p. 218104
Main Authors Zöttl, Andreas, Stark, Holger
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 22.05.2012
Subjects
Cell Movement
Hydrodynamics
Models, Theoretical
Movement
Nonlinear Dynamics
Swimming
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Summary:We study the three-dimensional dynamics of a spherical microswimmer in cylindrical Poiseuille flow which can be mapped onto a Hamiltonian system. Swinging and tumbling trajectories are identified. In 2D they are equivalent to oscillating and circling solutions of a mathematical pendulum. Hydrodynamic interactions between the swimmer and confining channel walls lead to dissipative dynamics and result in stable trajectories, different for pullers and pushers. We demonstrate this behavior in the dipole approximation of the swimmer and with simulations using the method of multiparticle collision dynamics.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.108.218104