Hydrodynamic phase locking of swimming microorganisms.
Phys Rev Lett
; 103(8): 088101, 2009 Aug 21.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19792766
ABSTRACT
Some microorganisms, such as spermatozoa, synchronize their flagella when swimming in close proximity. Using a simplified model (two infinite, parallel, two-dimensional waving sheets), we show that phase locking arises from hydrodynamics forces alone, and has its origin in the front-back asymmetry of the geometry of their flagellar waveform. The time evolution of the phase difference between coswimming cells depends only on the nature of this geometrical asymmetry, and microorganisms can phase lock into conformations which minimize or maximize energy dissipation.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Flagelos
/
Modelos Biológicos
/
Movimento
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Phys Rev Lett
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos