Chemotaxis and auto-chemotaxis of self-propelling artificial droplet swimmers

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Chemotaxis and auto-chemotaxis of self-propelling artificial droplet swimmers

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 17th November 2016
  • Speaker: Chenyu Jin (Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self Organization Gottingen Germany)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Chemotaxis and auto-chemotaxis are key mechanisms in the dynamics of micro-organisms, e.g. in the acquisition of nutrients and in the communication between individuals, influencing the collective behavior. However, chemical signalling and the natural environment of biological swimmers are generally complex, making them hard to access analytically. Simple experimental systems showing similar features could provide vital insights. We present such a swimmer system, as well as controlled assays to study chemotactic effects quantitatively and reproducibly.

In our experiments, we let auto-chemotactic droplet swimmers pass through bifurcating microfluidic channels and record anticorrelations between the branch choices of consecutive droplets. We present an analytical model based on balancing stochastic forces versus a diffusing chemical gradient matching the experimental data.

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

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