Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale

Hubert M, Trosman O, Collard Y, Sukhov A, Harting J, Vandewalle N, Smith AS (2021)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Book Volume: 126

Journal Issue: 22

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.224501

Abstract

By comparing theoretical modeling, simulations, and experiments, we show that there exists a swimming regime at low Reynolds numbers solely driven by the inertia of the swimmer itself. This is demonstrated by considering a dumbbell with an asymmetry in coasting time in its two spheres. Despite deforming in a reciprocal fashion, the dumbbell swims by generating a nonreciprocal Stokesian flow, which arises from the asymmetry in coasting times. This asymmetry acts as a second degree of freedom, which allows the scallop theorem to be fulfilled at the mesoscopic scale.

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How to cite

APA:

Hubert, M., Trosman, O., Collard, Y., Sukhov, A., Harting, J., Vandewalle, N., & Smith, A.-S. (2021). Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale. Physical Review Letters, 126(22). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.224501

MLA:

Hubert, Maxime, et al. "Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale." Physical Review Letters 126.22 (2021).

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