6533b834fe1ef96bd129e046
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Controlling stability and transport of magnetic microswimmers by an external field
Sara Jabbari-faroujiSara Jabbari-faroujiFabian R. Koesselsubject
PhysicsPhysics::Biological PhysicsHydrodynamic stabilitySteady stateStatistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)Field (physics)FOS: Physical sciencesGeneral Physics and AstronomyPattern Formation and Solitons (nlin.PS)MechanicsCondensed Matter - Soft Condensed MatterNonlinear Sciences - Pattern Formation and Solitons01 natural sciencesInstability010305 fluids & plasmasMagnetic fieldNonlinear system0103 physical sciencesSoft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)Polar010306 general physicsAnisotropyCondensed Matter - Statistical Mechanicsdescription
We investigate the hydrodynamic stability and transport of magnetic microswimmers in an external field using a kinetic theory framework. Combining linear stability analysis and nonlinear 3D continuum simulations, we show that for sufficiently large activity and magnetic field strengths, a homogeneous polar steady state is unstable for both puller and pusher swimmers. This instability is caused by the amplification of anisotropic hydrodynamic interactions due to the external alignment and leads to a partial depolarization and a reduction of the average transport speed of the swimmers in the field direction. Notably, at higher field strengths a reentrant hydrodynamic stability emerges where the homogeneous polar state becomes stable and a transport efficiency identical to that of active particles without hydrodynamic interactions is restored.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-02-08 | EPL (Europhysics Letters) |