Active Brownian filaments with hydrodynamic interactions: conformations and dynamics

TL;DR

This study explores how hydrodynamic interactions influence the shape and movement of active polymers, revealing significant effects on their size, relaxation, and diffusion behaviors through simulations and theory.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the impact of hydrodynamic interactions on active polymer conformations and dynamics, combining simulations with analytical modeling.

Findings

Hydrodynamic interactions cause substantial polymer shrinkage at moderate activity levels.

Active polymers exhibit enhanced mean square displacement and ballistic motion regimes.

Hydrodynamics lead to a hydrodynamically governed subdiffusive regime in flexible active polymers.

Abstract

The conformational and dynamical properties of active self-propelled filaments/polymers are investigated in the presence of hydrodynamic interactions by both, Brownian dynamics simulations and analytical theory. Numerically, a discrete linear chain composed of active Brownian particles is considered, analytically, a continuous linear semiflexible polymer with active velocities changing diffusively. The force-free nature of active monomers is accounted for - no Stokeslet fluid flow induced by active forces - and higher order hydrodynamic multipole moments are neglected. The nonequilibrium character of the active process implies a dependence of the stationary-state properties on HI via the polymer relaxation times. In particular, at moderate activities, HI lead to a substantial shrinkage of flexible and semiflexible polymers to an extent far beyond shrinkage of comparable free-draining polymers; even flexible HI-polymers shrink, while active free-draining polymers swell monotonically. Large activities imply a reswelling, however, to a less extent than for non-HI polymers, caused by the shorter polymer relaxation times due to hydrodynamic interactions. The polymer mean square displacement is enhanced, and an activity-determined ballistic regime appears. Over a wide range of time scales, flexible active polymers exhibit a hydrodynamically governed subdiffusive regime, with an exponent significantly smaller than that of the Rouse and Zimm models of passive polymers. Compared to simulations, the approximate analytical approach predicts a weaker hydrodynamic effect.