Propulsion with a rotating elastic nanorod.
The dynamics of a rotating elastic filament is investigated using Stokesian simulations. The filament, straight and tilted with respect to its rotation axis for small driving torques, undergoes at a critical torque a strongly discontinuous shape bifurcation to a helical state. It induces a substantial forward propulsion whatever the sense of rotation: a nanomechanical force-rectification device is established.
Manghi
Manoel
M
Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, IRSAMC, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France.
Schlagberger
Xaver
X
Netz
Roland R
RR
D001419:Bacteria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001704:Biopolymers; D004548:Elasticity; D005407:Flagella; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures; D012399:Rotation; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D019415:Torque
D001704:Biopolymers