A three-sphere swimmer for flagellar synchronization

TL;DR

This paper analyzes a minimal low-Reynolds-number swimmer model consisting of three spheres, exploring how its geometry influences swimming efficiency and flagellar synchronization, with implications for understanding biological flagella coordination.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of how swimmer geometry affects propulsion and synchronization, optimizing design parameters for effective flagellar coordination.

Findings

Geometry significantly influences swimming speed and synchronization.

Broken symmetries are crucial for effective swimming and flagellar synchronization.

Optimal swimmer design enhances synchronization efficiency.

Abstract

In a recent letter (Friedrich et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109:138102, 2012), a minimal model swimmer was proposed that propels itself at low Reynolds numbers by a revolving motion of a pair of spheres. The motion of the two spheres can synchronize by virtue of a hydrodynamic coupling that depends on the motion of the swimmer, but is rather independent of direct hydrodynamic interactions. This novel synchronization mechanism could account for the synchronization of a pair of flagella, e.g. in the green algae Chlamydomonas. Here, we discuss in detail how swimming and synchronization depend on the geometry of the model swimmer and compute the swimmer design for optimal synchronization. Our analysis highlights the role of broken symmetries for swimming and synchronization.