Three-bead steering microswimmers

Mohd Suhail Rizvi, Alexander Farutin, and Chaouqi Misbah
Phys. Rev. E 97, 023102 – Published 5 February 2018
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Abstract

The self-propelled microswimmers have recently attracted considerable attention as model systems for biological cell migration as well as artificial micromachines. A simple and well-studied microswimmer model consists of three identical spherical beads joined by two springs in a linear fashion with active oscillatory forces being applied on the beads to generate self-propulsion. We have extended this linear microswimmer configuration to a triangular geometry where the three beads are connected by three identical springs in an equilateral triangular manner. The active forces acting on each spring can lead to autonomous steering motion; i.e., allowing the swimmer to move along arbitrary paths. We explore the microswimmer dynamics analytically and pinpoint its rich character depending on the nature of the active forces. The microswimmers can translate along a straight trajectory, rotate at a fixed location, as well as perform a simultaneous translation and rotation resulting in complex curved trajectories. The sinusoidal active forces on the three springs of the microswimmer contain naturally four operating parameters which are more than required for the steering motion. We identify the minimal operating parameters which are essential for the motion of the microswimmer along any given arbitrary trajectory. Therefore, along with providing insights into the mechanics of the complex motion of the natural and artificial microswimmers, the triangular three-bead microswimmer can be utilized as a model for targeted drug delivery systems and autonomous underwater vehicles where intricate trajectories are involved.

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  • Received 1 August 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.97.023102

©2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Fluid DynamicsPhysics of Living SystemsInterdisciplinary Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Mohd Suhail Rizvi*, Alexander Farutin, and Chaouqi Misbah

  • Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, Université Grenoble Alpes and CNRS, F-38000 Grenoble, France

  • *mohd-suhail.rizvi@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
  • alexandr.farutin@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
  • chaouqi.misbah@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

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Issue

Vol. 97, Iss. 2 — February 2018

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