Shape matters: a Brownian microswimmer in a channel

DOI10.1017/JFM.2021.144zbMATH Open1492.76160arXiv2006.07714OpenAlexW3148547830MaRDI QIDQ3389433FDOQ3389433

Authors: Hongfei Chen, Jean-Luc Thiffeault 

Publication date: 10 May 2021

Published in: Journal of Fluid Mechanics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We consider the active Brownian particle (ABP) model for a two-dimensional microswimmer with fixed speed, whose direction of swimming changes according to a Brownian process. The probability density for the swimmer evolves according to a Fokker-Planck equation defined on the configuration space, whose structure depends on the swimmer's shape, center of rotation and domain of swimming. We enforce zero probability flux at the boundaries of configuration space. We derive a reduced equation for a swimmer in an infinite channel, in the limit of small rotational diffusivity, and find that the invariant density depends strongly on the swimmer's precise shape and center of rotation. We also give a formula for the mean reversal time: the expected time taken for a swimmer to completely reverse direction in the channel. Using homogenization theory, we find an expression for the effective longitudinal diffusivity of a swimmer in the channel, and show that it is bounded by the mean reversal time.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07714

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zbMATH Keywords

Fokker-Planck equationconfiguration spaceprobability densitymicro-organism dynamicsBrownian particle modelmean reversal timetwo-dimensional microswimmerzero probability flux

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Stochastic analysis applied to problems in fluid mechanics (76M35) Biomechanics (92C10) Biopropulsion in water and in air (76Z10)

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Cited In (4)

• Variational bounds and nonlinear stability of an active nematic suspension
• Distribution and pressure of active Lévy swimmers under confinement
• The interplay between bulk flow and boundary conditions on the distribution of microswimmers in channel flow
• A local approximation model for macroscale transport of biased active Brownian particles in a flowing suspension

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