### Session Y48: Focus Session: Statistical Physics of Active Systems Away From Detailed Balance: Swimmers and All That

8:00 AM–10:48 AM, Friday, March 2, 2012
Room: 161

Chair: Daniel Needleman, Harvard University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2012.MAR.Y48.3

### Abstract: Y48.00003 : Microfluidic one-way streets for algae

8:24 AM–8:36 AM

MathJax On | Off     Abstract

#### Authors:

Jorn Dunkel
(DAMTP, University of Cambridge)

Vasily Kantsler
(DAMTP, University of Cambridge)

Marco Polin
(DAMTP, University of Cambridge)

Raymond E. Goldstein
(DAMTP, University of Cambridge)

Controlling locomotion and transport of microorganisms is a key challenge in the development of future biotechnological applications. Here, we demonstrate the use of optimized microfluidic ratchets to rectify the mean swimming direction in suspensions of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is a promising candidate for the photosynthetic production of hydrogen. To assess the potential of microfluidic barriers for the manipulation of algal swimming, we studied first the scattering of individual C. reinhardtii from solid boundaries. High-speed imaging reveals the surprising result that these quasi-spherical puller''-type microswimmers primarily interact with surfaces via direct flagellar contact, whereas hydrodynamic effects play a subordinate role. A minimal theoretical model, based on run-and-turn motion and the experimentally measured surface-scattering law, predicts the existence of optimal wedge-shaped ratchets that maximize rectification of initially uniform suspensions. We confirm this prediction in experimental measurements with different geometries. Since the mechano-elastic properties of eukaryotic flagella are conserved across many genera, we expect that our results and methods are applicable to a broad class of biflagellate microorganisms.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.MAR.Y48.3