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Fission and fusion scenarios for magnetic microswimmer clusters

Author

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  • Francisca Guzmán-Lastra

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

  • Andreas Kaiser

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Hartmut Löwen

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

Abstract

Fission and fusion processes of particle clusters occur in many areas of physics and chemistry from subnuclear to astronomic length scales. Here we study fission and fusion of magnetic microswimmer clusters as governed by their hydrodynamic and dipolar interactions. Rich scenarios are found that depend crucially on whether the swimmer is a pusher or a puller. In particular a linear magnetic chain of pullers is stable while a pusher chain shows a cascade of fission (or disassembly) processes as the self-propulsion velocity is increased. Contrarily, magnetic ring clusters show fission for any type of swimmer. Moreover, we find a plethora of possible fusion (or assembly) scenarios if a single swimmer collides with a ringlike cluster and two rings spontaneously collide. Our predictions are obtained by computer simulations and verifiable in experiments on active colloidal Janus particles and magnetotactic bacteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisca Guzmán-Lastra & Andreas Kaiser & Hartmut Löwen, 2016. "Fission and fusion scenarios for magnetic microswimmer clusters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13519
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13519
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefania Ketzetzi & Melissa Rinaldin & Pim Dröge & Joost de Graaf & Daniela J. Kraft, 2022. "Activity-induced interactions and cooperation of artificial microswimmers in one-dimensional environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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