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Chemotactic Response of Marine Micro-Organisms to Micro-Scale Nutrient Layers
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Pseudochemotactic drifts of artificial microswimmers
Pulak K Ghosh1, Yunyun Li2, Fabio Marchesoni2,3
1Department of Chemistry, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India.
Summary
Active microswimmers in fuel gradients accumulate in low-concentration areas. Their drift, termed pseudochemotactic, moves them towards higher fuel concentrations, impacting experimental data interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Physics of active matter
- Chemical physics of microscale transport
Background:
- Artificial microswimmers are model systems for studying active matter.
- Fuel concentration gradients drive directed motion in microswimmers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate microswimmer motion in fuel gradients.
- To understand the steady-state probability density and drift velocity of microswimmers.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of active artificial microswimmers.
- Analysis of particle diffusion in a fuel concentration gradient.
Main Results:
- Microswimmer probability density accumulates in low-concentration regions.
- Drift velocity depends on gradient effects on self-propulsion.
- Observed pseudochemotactic drift towards high-concentration regions.
Conclusions:
- Microswimmer behavior in gradients is 'anti-Fickian'.
- Experimental data interpretation requires accounting for pseudochemotactic drift.
- Understanding microswimmer dynamics is crucial for applications.
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