Hydrodynamic phase-locking of swimming microorganisms
Biological Physics
2009-09-15 v1 Soft Condensed Matter
Fluid Dynamics
Abstract
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.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0907.0962,
title = {Hydrodynamic phase-locking of swimming microorganisms},
author = {Gwynn J. Elfring and Eric Lauga},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0907.0962},
year = {2009}
}