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arXiv · 1303.7325

Enhanced motility of a microswimmer in rigid and elastic confinement

Rodrigo Ledesma-Aguilar·Julia M. Yeomans
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Abstract

We analyse the effect of confining rigid and elastic boundaries on the motility of a model dipolar microswimmer. Flexible boundaries are deformed by the velocity field of the swimmer in such a way that the motility of both extensile and contractile swimmers is enhanced. The magnitude of the increase in swimming velocity is controlled by the ratio of the swimmer-advection and elastic timescales, and the dipole moment of the swimmer. We explain our results by considering swimming between inclined rigid boundaries.

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Rodrigo Ledesma-Aguilar, Julia M. Yeomans. 2013-09-05. Enhanced motility of a microswimmer in rigid and elastic confinement. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.111.138101

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