Enhanced mechanical efficiency in microorganism transport

C.A. CONDAT; G.J. SIBONA

Cocoyoc, México

Workshop; LAWNP'01; 2001

Comité Organizador LAWNP

Brownian forces have a non negligible effect on the motion of small microorganisms (sizes of the order of m or smaller). Starting from a recently proposed model for the motion of Brownian objects with internal energy depots [(F. Schweitzer, W. Ebeling and B. Tilch, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5044, (1998)], we show that external fluctuations can increase the mechanical efficiency of the propulsion system that propels the microorganism. Our results suggest that, under certain circumstances, microorganisms can take advantage of Brownian forces to search more efficiently for a favorable environment. Using analytical tools and Monte Carlo simulations, we have derived various dynamic properties characteristic of these Brownian objects.