Anomalous dynamics of an elastic membrane in an active fluid.
Using numerical simulations, we characterized the behavior of an elastic membrane immersed in an active fluid. Our findings reveal a nontrivial folding and re-expansion of the membrane that is controlled by the interplay of its resistance to bending and the self-propulsion strength of the active components in solution. We show how flexible membranes tend to collapse into multifolded states, whereas stiff membranes fluctuate between an extended configuration and a singly folded state. This study provides a simple example of how to exploit the random motion of active particles to perform mechanical work at the microscale.
Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, New York, New York 10027, USA.
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Mallory
Departamento de Fisica Aplicada I, Facultad de Ciencias Fisica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Valeriani
Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, New York, New York 10027, USA.
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Cacciuto