2017/05/31 by Juho S. Lintuvuori, Alois Würger, Aloïs Würger +1
Computer Science · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Materials and Mechanics #Anisotropy #Biaxial nematic #Classical mechanics #Condensed matter physics #Coupling (piping) #Field (mathematics) #Flow (mathematics) #Geometry #Liquid crystal #Materials science #Mechanics #Micro and Nano Robotics #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Optics #Orientation (vector space) #Perpendicular #Physics #Rotational symmetry #Symmetry (geometry) #cond-mat.soft #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.119.068001
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 068001 (2017) · 10 (6 + 4) pages, 5 figures
arxiv created 2017/07/21 · openalex publication_date 2017/08/08 · arxiv updated 2017/08/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present a study of the hydrodynamics of an active particle-a model squirmer-in an environment with a broken rotational symmetry: a nematic liquid crystal. By combining simulations with analytic calculations, we show that the hydrodynamic coupling between the squirmer flow field and liquid crystalline director can lead to reorientation of the swimmers. The preferred orientation depends on the exact details of the squirmer flow field. In a steady state, pushers are shown to swim parallel with the nematic director while pullers swim perpendicular to the nematic director. This behavior arises solely from hydrodynamic coupling between the squirmer flow field and anisotropic viscosities of the host fluid. Our results suggest that an anisotropic swimming medium can be used to characterize and guide spherical microswimmers in the bulk.