title: Collision of microswimmers in a viscous fluid.
abstract: We investigate the effects of boundary conditions on the surface of self-propelled spherical swimmers moving in a viscous fluid with a low Reynolds number. We first show that collisions between the swimmers are impossible under the commonly used no-slip conditions. Next we demonstrate that collisions do occur if the more general Navier boundary conditions, allowing for a finite slip on the surface that produces drag, are imposed on the boundary of swimmers. The presence of a small inertia for each swimmer does not influence whether collisions occur between swimmers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. potomkin@math.psu.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potomkin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gyrya
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aranson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berlyand
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D033081:Shear Strength; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions