Active particles in noninertial frames: How to self-propel on a carousel.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Statistical Mechanics
• Soft Matter

Background:

• Active Brownian motion typically assumes a quiescent, inertial frame.
• Real-world systems often involve noninertial frames due to rotation or vibration.

Purpose of the Study:

• Generalize the active Brownian motion model to noninertial frames.
• Investigate particle dynamics under rotation and inertia.
• Propose and analyze a navigation strategy to counter expulsion from rotating frames.

Main Methods:

• Analytical solutions for overdamped linear and circle swimmers.
• Inclusion of centrifugal and Coriolis forces for inertial systems.
• Trajectory analysis in rotating frames.

Main Results:

• In rotating frames, particles exhibit trochoidal or out-spiraling trajectories.
• Particles tend to leave rotating frames, approaching a spira mirabilis.
• A navigation strategy is effective only within a critical radius dependent on self-propulsion velocity.

Conclusions:

• The generalized active Brownian motion model accurately describes particle behavior in noninertial frames.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for systems like vibrated granulates and active plasmas.
• Experimental verification of predicted trajectories and navigation limits is feasible.