Hydrodynamics can determine the optimal route for microswimmer navigation

This paper explores optimal navigation strategies for microswimmers, focusing on the influence of hydrodynamic interactions with walls and obstacles. The authors demonstrate that the microswimmer's flow field significantly impacts the fastest route to a target, resulting in non-intuitive trajectories unlike those of dry active particles or macroagents. The findings highlight the roles of hydrodynamics and fluctuations in microscale navigation and suggest potential survival advantages for microorganisms strategically controlling their wall proximity.

Abdallah Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Hartmut Löwen, Benno Liebchen