New publication in Physical Review Letters
As postulated by the Scallop Theorem, swimming at low Reynolds numbers requires non-reciprocity in time in the swimmer stroke. In our article entitled “Scallop Theorem and swimming at the Mesoscale” we employ a system of two connected asymmetric particles both having significant inertia and demonstrate a directed controlled swimmer motion even driven in a reciprocal fashion. The asymmetry in coasting times of the particles acts as a second degree of freedom and satisfies the scallop theorem. Our numerical lattice-Boltzmann simulations confirm the outcome of the analytical model whose predictions are approved in subsequent experiments using magnetic particles placed at an air/water interface.
This research is the result of a longstanding collaboration between the theoretical department of the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuernberg, the theory group of Prof. A. Smith (Friedrich-Alexander University) and the experimental department of Prof. N. Vandewalle (University of Liege, Belgium).
Our work was recently featured in "Science" and in the “InSIDE Magazine":
- https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/05/tiny-symmetric-swimmer-evades-basic-rule-fluid-dynamic
- https://www.gauss-centre.eu/news/research-highlights/article/taking-inspiration-from-microorganisms-researchers-use-hpc-to-propel-magnetocapillary-swimmer-resear/
Contact
Prof. Dr. Jens Harting
Head of Research Department
Room 5011