Densitaxis: Active particle motion in density gradients

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study of how small active particles, like microorganisms, reorient and swim in density-stratified fluids, revealing a new form of taxis called densitaxis influenced by their propulsion mechanism.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of densitaxis, showing how density gradients cause reorientation of active particles based on their swimming gait, with potential applications in marine biology and particle sorting.

Findings

Puller particles align to swim parallel to density gradients.

Pusher particles tend to swim normal to density gradients.

Density stratification induces reorientation based on propulsion type.

Abstract

Organisms often swim through density stratified fluids. In this Letter, we investigate the dynamics of small active particles swimming in density gradients and report theoretical evidence of taxis as a result of density stratification ($\textit{densitaxis}$). Specifically, we calculate the effect of density stratification on the dynamics of a force-free spherical squirmer and show that density stratification induces reorientation that tends to align swimming either parallel or normal to the gradient depending on the swimming gait. In particular, particles that propel by generating thrust in the front (pullers) rotate to swim parallel to gradients and hence display (positive or negative) densitaxis, while particles that propel by generating thrust in the back (pushers) rotate to swim normal to the gradients. This work could be useful to understand the motion of marine organisms in ocean, or be leveraged to sort or organize a suspension of active particles by modulating density gradients.