Activity-induced asymmetric dispersion in confined channels with constriction

Abstract

Microorganisms, such as E.Coli, are known to display upstream behavior and respond rheotactically to shear flows. In particular, E.Coli suspensions have been shown to display strong sensitivity to spatial constrictions, leading to an anomalous densification past the constriction for incoming fluid velocities comparable to the microoganism's self propulsion speed. We introduce a Brownian dynamics model for ellipsoidal self-propelling particles in a confined channel subject to a constriction. The model allows to identify the relevant parameters that characterize the relevant dynamical regimes of the accumulation of the active particles at the constriction, and clarify the mechanisms underlying the experimental observations. We find that particles are trapped in butterfly-like attractors in front of the constriction, which is the origin of the symmetry breaking in the emerging density profiles of active particles passing the constriction. In addition, the probability of trapping and thus the strength of asymmetry is affected by size of the particles and geometry of the channel, as well as the ratio of fluid velocity to propulsion speed.