A Simplest Swimmer at Low Reynolds Number: Three Linked Spheres

Preprint

3 February 2004

preprint
Published by arXiv in arXiv

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.cond-mat/0402070

Abstract

We propose a very simple one-dimensional swimmer consisting of three spheres that are linked by rigid rods whose lengths can change between two values. With a periodic motion in a non-reciprocal fashion, which breaks the time-reversal symmetry as well as the translational symmetry, we show that the model device can swim at low Reynolds number. This model system could be used in constructing molecular-size machines.

Keywords

LOW REYNOLDS NUMBER
RECIPROCAL FASHION
SIMPLEST SWIMMER
REYNOLDS NUMBER

All Related Versions

Version 1, 2004-02-03, ArXiv
Published version: Physical Review E, 69 (6), 062901.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: