Regensburg 2016 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 30: Microswimmers I (Joint Session with DY)

BP 30.1: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 09:30–10:00, H47

Amoeboid swimming — •Chaouqi Misbah — CNRS and Univ. Grenoble, France

Microorganisms, such as bacteria, algae, or spermatozoa, are able to propel themselves forward thanks to flagella or cilia activity. By contrast, other organisms employ pronounced changes of the membrane shape to achieve propulsion, a prototypical example being the Eutreptiella gymnastica. Cells of the immune system as well as dictyostelium amoebas, traditionally believed to crawl on a substratum, can also swim in a similar way. We develop a model for these organisms. It is shown that fast propulsion can be achieved with adequate shape adaptations. We investigate the effect of confinement. A complex picture emerges. In particular it is found that optimal swimming can be obtaiend for a special confinement, and that the nature (pusher or puller) of the swimmer depends on confinement. The swimmer is often found to excecute ample excursion (navigation) in the channel.