2015/06/24 by Ghosh, Pulak K., Li, Yunyun, Marchesoni, Fabio +1 · 1 citation
#FOS: Physical sciences #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1506.07398
We numerically investigate the motion of active artificial microswimmers diffusing in a fuel concentration gradient. We observe that, in the steady state, their probability density accumulates in the low-concentration regions, whereas a tagged swimmer drifts with velocity depending in modulus and orientation on how the concentration gradient affects the self-propulsion mechanism. Under most experimentally accessible conditions, the particle drifts toward the high-concentration regions (pseudo-chemotactic drift). A correct interpretation of experimental data must account for such an "anti-Fickian" behavior.