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arXiv · 0905.1316

Dynamics of a microorganism moving by chemotaxis in its own secretion

Ankush Sengupta·Sven van Teeffelen·Hartmut Löwen
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Abstract

The Brownian dynamics of a single microorganism coupled by chemotaxis to a diffusing concentration field which is secreted by the microorganism itself is studied by computer simulations in spatial dimensions $d=1,2,3$. Both cases of a chemoattractant and a chemorepellent are discussed. For a chemoattractant, we find a transient dynamical arrest until the microorganism diffuses for long times. For a chemorepellent, there is a transient ballistic motion in all dimensions and a long-time diffusion. These results are interpreted with the help of a theoretical analysis.

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Ankush Sengupta, Sven van Teeffelen, Hartmut Löwen. 2009-05-08. Dynamics of a microorganism moving by chemotaxis in its own secretion. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.80.031122

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