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Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Turbulence and Particle Kinematics Using Flow Imaging Techniques
Published on: March 12, 2019
Alignment of Nonspherical Active Particles in Chaotic Flows
M Borgnino1, K Gustavsson2, F De Lillo1
1Dipartimento di Fisica and INFN, Università di Torino, via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy.
Abstract:
We study the orientation statistics of spheroidal, axisymmetric microswimmers, with shapes ranging from disks to rods, swimming in chaotic, moderately turbulent flows. Numerical simulations show that rodlike active particles preferentially align with the flow velocity. To explain the underlying mechanism, we solve a statistical model via the perturbation theory. We show that such an alignment is caused by correlations of fluid velocity and its gradients along particle paths combined with fore-aft symmetry breaking due to both swimming and particle nonsphericity. Remarkably, the discovered alignment is found to be a robust kinematical effect, independent of the underlying flow evolution. We discuss its possible relevance for aquatic ecology.
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