Statics and dynamics of magnetocapillary bonds

Abstract

When ferromagnetic particles are suspended at an interface under magnetic fields, dipole-dipole interactions compete with capillary attraction. This combination of forces has recently given promising results towards controllable self-assemblies, as well as low Reynolds swimming systems. The elementary unit of these assemblies is a pair of particles. Although equilibrium properties of this interaction are well described, dynamics remain unclear. In this letter, the properties of magnetocapillary bonds are determined by probing them with magnetic perturbations. Two deformation modes are evidenced and discussed. These modes exhibit resonances whose frequencies can be detuned to generate non-reciprocal motion. A model is proposed which can become the basis for elaborate collective behaviours.

References in corpus (3)

• The hydrodynamics of swimming microorganisms
• Remote control of self-assembled microswimmers
• Stability and dynamics of magnetocapillary interactions

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Realization of the Najafi-Golestanian microswimmer
• Remote control of self-assembled microswimmers
• Magnetocapillary self-assemblies: locomotion and micromanipulation along a liquid interface
• The Scallop Theorem and Swimming at the Mesoscale
• Surface microswimmers, harnessing the interface to self-propel
• Magnetically powered metachronal waves induce locomotion in self-assemblies
• Optimal motion of triangular magnetocapillary swimmers
• Capillary assemblies in a rotating magnetic field
• A general perturbative approach for bead-based microswimmers reveals rich self-propulsion phenomena
• Capillary interactions between soft capsules protruding through thin fluid films