Hydrodynamics of an odd active surfer in a chiral fluid

Journal article

We theoretically and computationally study the low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamics of a linear active microswimmer surfing on a compressible thin fluid layer characterized by an odd viscosity. Since the underlying three-dimensional fluid is assumed to be very thin compared to any lateral size of the fluid layer, the model is effectively two-dimensional. In the limit of small odd viscosity compared to the even viscosities of the fluid layer, we obtain analytical expressions for the self-induced flow field, which includes non-reciprocal components due to the odd viscosity. On this basis, we fully analyze the behavior of a single linear swimmer, finding that it follows a circular path, the radius of which is, to leading order, inversely proportional to the magnitude of the odd viscosity. In addition, we show that a pair of swimmers exhibits a wealth of two-body dynamics that depends on the initial relative orientation angles as well as on the propulsion mechanism adopted by each swimmer. In particular, the pusher-pusher and pusher-puller-type swimmer pairs exhibit a generic spiral motion, while the puller-puller pair is found to either co-rotate in the steady state along a circular trajectory or exhibit a more complex chaotic behavior resulting from the interplay between hydrodynamic and steric interactions. Our theoretical predictions may pave the way toward a better understanding of active transport in active chiral fluids with odd viscosity, and may find potential applications in the quantitative microrheological characterization of odd-viscous fluids.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure

Authors: Hosaka, Y; Golestanian, R; Daddi-Moussa-Ider, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: New Journal of Physics
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 083046-083046
• Publication date: 2023-08-29
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/aceea4
• EISSN: 1367-2630
• ISSN: 1367-2630
• Language: English
• Keywords: Viscosity; Mechanics; Reynolds number; Physics; Turbulence; RADIUS; Thermodynamics; Classical mechanics; Fluid dynamics