Hydrodynamic phase-locking of swimming microorganisms

Details Hydrodynamic phase-locking of swimming microorganisms Hydrodynamic phase-locking of swimming microorganisms

2009-07-06

arxiv.org/abs/0907.0962v1

Phys. Rev. Lett. (2009) 103, 088101

Physics

Biological Physics

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.088101

Some microorganisms, such as spermatozoa, synchronize their flagella when swimming in close proximity. Using a simplified model (two infinite, parallel, two-dimensional waving sheets), we show that phase-locking arises from hydrodynamics forces alone, and has its origin in the front-back asymmetry of the geometry of their flagellar waveform. The time-evolution of the phase difference between co-swimming cells depends only on the nature of this geometrical asymmetry, and microorganisms can phase-lock into conformations which minimize or maximize energy dissipation.

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