Observation of enhanced diffusivity in magnetically powered reciprocal swimmers.
We report on the development of a system of micron-sized reciprocal swimmers that can be powered with small homogeneous magnetic fields, and whose motion resembles that of a helical flagellum moving back and forth. We have measured the diffusivities of the swimmers to be higher compared to nonactuated objects of identical dimensions at long time scales, in accordance with the theoretical predictions made by Lauga [Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 178101 (2011)]. Randomness in the reciprocity of the actuation strokes was found to have a strong influence on the enhancement of the diffusivity, which has been investigated with numerical calculations.
Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
Pranay
P
Mandal
Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India and Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India and Department of Electrical Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
Ambarish
A
Ghosh
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D008280:Magnetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013550:Swimming