Nonlinear dynamics of a microswimmer in Poiseuille flow

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 108; no. 21; p. 218104
• Main Authors: Zöttl, Andreas, Stark, Holger
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 22.05.2012
• Subjects: Cell Movement; Hydrodynamics; Models, Theoretical; Movement; Nonlinear Dynamics; Swimming

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...