Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale

Hubert M, Trosman O, Collard Y, Sukhov A, Harting J, Vandewalle N, Smith AS (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Physical Review Letters American Physical Society

Book Volume: 126

Journal Issue: 22

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.224501

Abstract

By comparing theoretical modeling, simulations, and experiments, we show that there exists a swimming regime at low Reynolds numbers solely driven by the inertia of the swimmer itself. This is demonstrated by considering a dumbbell with an asymmetry in coasting time in its two spheres. Despite deforming in a reciprocal fashion, the dumbbell swims by generating a nonreciprocal Stokesian flow, which arises from the asymmetry in coasting times. This asymmetry acts as a second degree of freedom, which allows the scallop theorem to be fulfilled at the mesoscopic scale.

Authors with CRIS profile

Maxime Hubert Physics Underlying Life Science Oleg Trosman Physics Underlying Life Science Ana-Suncana Smith Physics Underlying Life Science

Related research project(s)

Modelling transport of nanoparticles (SFB 1411 - D02) Design of particulate products (SFB 1411) Jan. 1, 2020 - Dec. 31, 2023 Molecular modelling of surface and particle interactions (SFB 1411 - D01) Design of particulate products (SFB 1411) Jan. 1, 2020 - Dec. 31, 2023

Involved external institutions

University of Liège (ULg) / Université de Liège BE Belgium (BE) Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hubert, M., Trosman, O., Collard, Y., Sukhov, A., Harting, J., Vandewalle, N., & Smith, A.-S. (2021). Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale. Physical Review Letters, 126(22). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.224501

MLA:

Hubert, Maxime, et al. "Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale." Physical Review Letters 126.22 (2021).

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