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Harnessing random low Reynolds number flow for net migration.

Takeru Morita1, Toshihiro Omori1, Yohei Nakayama2

  • 1Department of Fine Mechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University 6-6-01 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.

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Microscale objects can achieve net migration in low Reynolds number flow using random noise. Introducing deformability and inhomogeneous density enables this movement, offering insights into microswimmer dynamics and energy harvesting.

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Area of Science:

  • Fluid dynamics
  • Microscale transport phenomena
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Low Reynolds number flow typically results in passive particle movement.
  • Harnessing energy from random fluid forces at the microscale is challenging.
  • Previous studies have not extensively explored noise-induced migration of microscale objects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To numerically demonstrate net migration of microscale objects using random noise in Stokes flow.
  • To develop a mathematical framework for deformation-induced migration.
  • To explore potential applications in microswimmer dynamics and energy harvesting.

Main Methods:

  • Numerical simulations of microscale objects in Stokes flow.
  • Introduction of object deformability and inhomogeneous density.
  • Development of a mathematical model for noise-induced migration.

Main Results:

  • Net migration of a microscale object was successfully extracted from random fluid forces.
  • A mathematical framework accurately described deformation-induced migration.
  • The study established a link between random noise and directed movement.

Conclusions:

  • Deformability and inhomogeneous density are key to achieving directed motion from random noise in microscale flows.
  • The findings provide a foundational understanding of noise-induced migration in microswimmers.
  • This research opens avenues for energy harvesting from low Reynolds number environments.