Motion-reversal in a simple microscopic swimmer

Abstract

We study the motion of a microscopic swimmer composed of a semiflexible polymer anchored at the surface of a magnetic sphere using hydrodynamic simulations and scaling arguments. The swimmer is driven by a rotating magnetic field, and displays forward and backward motion depending on the value of the rotational frequency. In particular, the system exhibits forward thrust for frequencies below a critical frequency $\omega^*$, while above $\omega^*$ the motion is reversed.