Document Type

Journal Article

Role

Author

Standard Number

1539-3755

Journal Title

Physical Review E

Volume

88

Issue

1

First Page

13015

Last Page

13020

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

We present quantitative measurements of time-dependent flagellar waveforms for freely swimming biflagellated algal cells, for both synchronous and asynchronous beating. We use the waveforms in conjunction with resistive force theory as well as a singularity method to predict a cell's time-dependent velocity for comparison with experiments. While net propulsion is thought to arise from asymmetry between the power and recovery strokes, we show that hydrodynamic interactions between the flagella and cell body on the return stroke make an important contribution to enhance net forward motion.

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