Swimmer-microrheology

Kento Yasuda, Ryuichi Okamoto, Shigeyuki Komura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We discuss the locomotion of a three-sphere microswimmer in a viscoelastic medium and propose a new type of active microrheology. We derive a relation that connects the average swimming velocity and the frequency-dependent viscosity of the surrounding medium. In this relation, the viscous contribution can exist only when the time-reversal symmetry is broken, whereas the elastic contribution is present only when the structural symmetry of the swimmer is broken. Purcell's scallop theorem breaks down for a three-sphere swimmer in a viscoelastic medium.

Original languageEnglish
Article number043801
Journaljournal of the physical society of japan
Volume86
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 15 2017
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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