Percolation transition of pusher-type microswimmers

ORAL

Abstract

In this talk I will present the presence of a continuum percolation transition in model suspensions of pusher-type microswimmers. The clusters dynamically aggregate and disaggregate resulting from a competition of attractive and repulsive hydrodynamic and steric interactions. As the microswimmers' filling fraction increases, the cluster size distribution approaches a scale-free form and there emerge large clusters spanning the entire system. We characterize this microswimmer percolation transition via the critical exponents, analytical arguments, and scaling relations known from percolation theory. This finding opens new vistas on microswimmers' congregative processes.

*We thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 937, project A20) and from the Max Planck Society.

Presenters

  • Fabian Jan Schwarzendahl

    • School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced

Authors

  • Fabian Jan Schwarzendahl

    • School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced
  • Marco G. Mazza

    • Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
    • Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling, Loughborough University