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Phototaxis of synthetic microswimmers in optical landscapes

Author

Listed:
  • Celia Lozano

    (2. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart
    Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme)

  • Borge ten Hagen

    (Institut für Theoretische Physik II: Weiche Materie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)

  • Hartmut Löwen

    (Institut für Theoretische Physik II: Weiche Materie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)

  • Clemens Bechinger

    (2. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart
    Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme)

Abstract

Many microorganisms, with phytoplankton and zooplankton as prominent examples, display phototactic behaviour, that is, the ability to perform directed motion within a light gradient. Here we experimentally demonstrate that sensing of light gradients can also be achieved in a system of synthetic photo-activated microparticles being exposed to an inhomogeneous laser field. We observe a strong orientational response of the particles because of diffusiophoretic torques, which in combination with an intensity-dependent particle motility eventually leads to phototaxis. Since the aligning torques saturate at high gradients, a strongly rectified particle motion is found even in periodic asymmetric intensity landscapes. Our results are in excellent agreement with numerical simulations of a minimal model and should similarly apply to other particle propulsion mechanisms. Because light fields can be easily adjusted in space and time, this also allows to extend our approach to dynamical environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Celia Lozano & Borge ten Hagen & Hartmut Löwen & Clemens Bechinger, 2016. "Phototaxis of synthetic microswimmers in optical landscapes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12828
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12828
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    Cited by:

    1. Helena Massana-Cid & Claudio Maggi & Giacomo Frangipane & Roberto Di Leonardo, 2022. "Rectification and confinement of photokinetic bacteria in an optical feedback loop," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Georgiy Tkachenko & Viet Giang Truong & Cindy Liza Esporlas & Isha Sanskriti & Síle Nic Chormaic, 2023. "Evanescent field trapping and propulsion of Janus particles along optical nanofibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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