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Minimal geometric requirements for micropropulsion via magnetic rotation
Journal article

Minimal geometric requirements for micropropulsion via magnetic rotation

U. Kei Cheang, Farshad Meshkati, Dalhyung Kim, Min Jun Kim and Henry Chien Fu
Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics, v 90(3), pp 033007-033007
12 Sep 2014
PMID: 25314529

Abstract

Physical Sciences Physics Physics, Fluids & Plasmas Physics, Mathematical Science & Technology
Controllable propulsion of microscale and nanoscale devices enhanced with additional functionality would enable the realization of miniaturized robotic swimmers applicable to transport and assembly, actuators, and drug delivery systems. Following biological examples, existing magnetically actuated microswimmers have been designed to use flexibility or chirality, presenting fabrication challenges. Here we show that, contrary to biomimetic expectations, magnetically actuated geometries with neither flexibility nor chirality can produce propulsion, through both experimental demonstration and a theoretical analysis, which elucidates the fundamental constraints on micropropulsion via magnetetic rotation. Our results advance existing paradigms of low-Reynolds-number propulsion, possibly enabling simpler fabrication and design of microswimmers and nanoswimmers.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Physics, Mathematical
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