Steering chiral swimmers along noisy helical paths

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Aug 7;103(6):068102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.068102. Epub 2009 Aug 6.

Abstract

Chemotaxis along helical paths towards a target releasing a chemoattractant is found in sperm cells and many microorganisms. We discuss the stochastic differential geometry of the noisy helical swimming path of a chiral swimmer. A chiral swimmer equipped with a simple feedback system can navigate in a concentration gradient of chemoattractant. We derive an effective equation for the alignment of helical paths with a concentration gradient which is related to the alignment of a dipole in an external field and discuss the chemotaxis index.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemotactic Factors
  • Chemotaxis / physiology*
  • Escherichia coli / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Biological*
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Stochastic Processes

Substances

  • Chemotactic Factors