Nonmonotonic diffusion in sheared active suspensions of squirmers

Abstract

We investigate how shear influences the dynamics of active particles in dilute to concentrated suspensions. Using apolar active suspensions of squirmers as model systems, we show how their long-time diffusive dynamics can surprisingly slow down and vary nonmonotonically with the shear rate arising from an interplay between the activity-induced persistent motion and shear-induced reorientation and diffusion. Further simulations of self-propelled particles with tunable persistence exhibit richer dynamics and confirm the observed coupling, suggesting that nonmonotonic diffusion may be a general feature of fluids endowed with an underlying microstructure and large persistence. Our results reveal a nonlinear effect of shear on diffusion in active suspensions, elucidate how internal and external forcing interact, and provide new possibilities to modulate transport in active fluids.