Anisotropic and deformable microswimmers

Inspired by biological microswimmers, a significant research effort on synthetic systems of self-propelled colloidal particles has uncovered a wide range of novel, exciting behaviours, including flocking, navigation, and dynamic cluster formation. These self-propelled particles form a paradigm of non-equilibrium active systems, and provide new insights into the complex collective phenomena seen in microorganisms. However, while microorganisms rely on changes in their shape to create and direct their motion, synthetic systems are mostly (1) spherical and (2) rigid. These experimental limitations currently preclude a fundamental understanding of how motion, anisotropic shape, and elasticity are coupled. I propose to create a synthetic model system of self-propelled, anisotropic and deformable microswimmers to systematically investigate, for the first time, the influence of shape and elasticity in active systems. My group will tackle this challenge by quantitatively studying the motion of individual swimmers, their interactions, and their collective behaviour. In two work packages that focus on the impact of (1) anisotropy and (2) deformability, we will address the following key questions: - How do shape symmetries affect the motion of active particles in homogeneous and inhomogeneous environments? - What collective behaviour emerges for active, anisotropic particles? - What elasto-active instabilities and emergent behaviour will be observed when shape, motion, and interactions are coupled through deformability? Our experimental approach is based on 3D direct laser writing of rigid and deformable colloidal particles with any desired shape and locus of the driving force. Using bright field and confocal microscopy in combination with advanced image analysis techniques, we will quantitatively address our key questions. By creating this new class of anisotropic, deformable microswimmers, we will uncover new physical phenomena, obtain unprecedented insights into biological microswimmers and pave the way towards smart, self-propelled microrobots.