Eur. Phys. J. E (2010) 33: 27-39
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2010-10654-7

Regular Article

Hydrodynamic interaction between two trapped swimming model micro-organisms

Departament de Fısica Fonamental, Universitat de Barcelona, C. Martı i Franqués 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

^* e-mail: ricardmn@ffn.ub.es

Received: 16 April 2010
Accepted: 16 August 2010
Published online: 23 September 2010

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of the behaviour of two active particles under the action of harmonic traps kept at a fixed distance away from each other. We classify the steady configurations the squirmers develop as a function of their self-propelling velocity and the active stresses the swimmers induce around them. We have further analyzed the stability of such configurations, and have found that the ratio between their self-propelling velocity and the apolar flow generated through active stresses determines whether collinear parallel squirmers or perpendicularly swimming particles moving away from each other are stable. Therefore, there is a close connection between the stable configurations and the active mechanisms leading to the particle self-propulsion. The trap potential does not affect the stability of the configurations; it only modifies some of their relevant time scales. We have also observed the development of characteristic frequencies which should be observable. Finally, we show that the development of the hydrodynamic flows induced by the active particles may be relevant even when its time scale orders of magnitude smaller than the other present characteristic time scales and may destabilize the stable configurations.