Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 17: Microswimmers (joint DY/BP)

BP 17.6: Talk

Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 10:45–11:00, ZEU 146

Propulsion of droplets by rigidly tethered traction forces — •P. Sekhar Burada, Reiner Kree, and Annette Zippelius — Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Göttingen, Germany

We study the dynamics of an active droplet, with both translational- and rotational degrees of freedom. A field of interfacial traction forces, which is time independent in a body-fixed reference frame drives the system. Using the general solution of the Stokes equation, with the appropriate boundary conditions, we are able to calculate the hydrodynamic flow pattern both inside and outside of the droplet. Also, using force- and torque balance conditions the translational- and rotational velocities of the droplet are calculated. We derive the conditions, in terms of mode amplitudes of the traction force, which need to be satisfied in order to preserve the shape of the droplet.