Pseudochemotactic drifts of artificial microswimmers.
We numerically investigate the motion of active artificial microswimmers diffusing in a fuel concentration gradient. We observe that, in the steady state, their probability density accumulates in the low-concentration regions, whereas a tagged swimmer drifts with velocity depending in modulus and orientation on how the concentration gradient affects the self-propulsion mechanism. Under most experimentally accessible conditions, the particle drifts toward the high-concentration regions (pseudochemotactic drift). A correct interpretation of experimental data must account for such an "anti-Fickian" behavior.
Department of Chemistry, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India.
Pulak K
PK
Ghosh
Center for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.
Yunyun
Y
Li
Center for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.|Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Camerino, I-62032 Camerino, Italy.
Fabio
F
Marchesoni
CEMS, RIKEN, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.|Physics Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Franco
F
Nori
D003198:Computer Simulation; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013550:Swimming