Hydrodynamic diffusion in apolar active suspensions

Abstract

Active suspensions encompass a wide range of complex fluids containing microscale energy-injecting particles, such as cells, bacteria or artificially powered active colloids. Because they are intrinsically non-equilibrium, active suspensions can display a number of fascinating phenomena, including turbulent-like large-scale coherent motion and enhanced diffusion. Here, using a recently developed active Fast Stokesian Dynamics method, we present a detailed numerical study on the hydrodynamic diffusion in apolar active suspensions. Specifically, we simulate suspensions of active but non-self-propelling spherical squirmers, of either puller- or pusher-type, at volume fractions from 0.5% to 55%. Our results show little difference between pullers and pushers in their instantaneous and long-time dynamics, where the translational dynamics vary non-monotonically with the volume fraction, with a peak diffusivity at around 10% to 20%, in stark contrast to suspensions of self-propelling particles. On the other hand, the rotational dynamics tend to increase with the volume fraction as is the case for self-propelling particles. To explain these dynamics, we provide detailed scaling and statistical analyses based on the activity-induced hydrodynamic interactions and the observed microstructural correlations, which display a weak local order. Overall, these results elucidate and highlight the different effects of particle activity on the collective dynamics and transport phenomena in active fluids.