• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Light Control of the Flow of Phototactic Microswimmer Suspensions

Xabel Garcia, Salima Rafaï, and Philippe Peyla
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 138106 – Published 28 March 2013
Physics logo See Synopsis: Swimming into the Light

Abstract

Some microalgae are sensitive to light intensity gradients. This property is known as phototaxis: The algae swim toward a light source (positive phototaxis). We use this property to control the motion of microalgae within a Poiseuille flow using light. The combination of flow vorticity and phototaxis results in a concentration of algae around the center of the flow. Intermittent light exposure allows analysis of the dynamics of this phenomenon and its reversibility. With this phenomenon, we hope to pave the way toward new algae concentration techniques (a bottleneck challenge in biofuel algal production) and toward the improvement of pollutant biodetector technology.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 11 January 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.138106

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Swimming into the Light

Published 28 March 2013

When exposed to light, swimming microalgae converge to the center of a pipe—a behavior that could prove advantageous for certain industrial uses of these organisms.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Xabel Garcia, Salima Rafaï*, and Philippe Peyla

  • University Joseph Fourier Grenoble 1/CNRS, LIPhy UMR 5588, F-38041 Grenoble, France

  • *Corresponding author. salima.rafai@ujf-grenoble.fr

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 13 — 29 March 2013

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×