TitleMigration of active rings in porous media.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsTheeyancheri L, Chaki S, Bhattacharjee T, Chakrabarti R
JournalPhys Rev E
Volume106
Issue1-1
Pagination014504
Date Published2022 Jul
ISSN2470-0053
Abstract

Inspired by how the shape deformations in active organisms help them to migrate through disordered porous environments, we simulate active ring polymers in two-dimensional random porous media. Flexible and inextensible active ring polymers navigate smoothly through the disordered media. In contrast, semiflexible rings undergo transient trapping inside the pore space; the degree of trapping is inversely correlated with the increase in activity. We discover that flexible rings swell while inextensible and semiflexible rings monotonically shrink upon increasing the activity. Together, our findings identify the optimal migration of active ring polymers through porous media.

DOI10.1103/PhysRevE.106.014504
Alternate JournalPhys Rev E
PubMed ID35974648