Collision of microswimmers in a viscous fluid

We investigate the effects of boundary conditions on the surface of self-propelled spherical swimmers moving in a viscous fluid with a low Reynolds number. We first show that collisions between the swimmers are impossible under the commonly used no-slip conditions. Next we demonstrate that collisions do occur if the more general Navier boundary conditions, allowing for a finite slip on the surface that produces drag, are imposed on the boundary of swimmers. The presence of a small inertia for each swimmer does not influence whether collisions occur between swimmers.