Swimming with small and large amplitude waves in a confined liquid crystal

摘要: Abstract Boundaries can have a significant impact on the physics of microorganism locomotion. Here we examine effects confinement by rigid boundary or symmetric channel undulatory locomotion in an anisotropic fluid, treated as nematic liquid crystal. The competition between hydrodynamics, fluid elasticity, and anchoring conditions results complex problem with unique transport properties. We this analytically using well-known mathematical model, infinite swimming sheet small wave amplitude, numerically for large amplitude waves modification immersed method. For prescribed stroke strong planar narrow channel, demonstrate that speed approaches its Newtonian value, though power required to maintain swimmer’s depends properties also show unusual prograde (in direction transverse propagation) theorized exist at persists presence sufficiently close returns behavior more standard retrograde motion (opposite traveling wave).