Entrained-head approximation for a helical microswimmer

ID: entrained-head-approximation-for-a-helical-microswimmer

Suppose a small spherical head co-translates with the large-scale flagellar flow and rotates at , while the local ambient rotation is approximated by . Its force is neglected and its torque on the fluid is . Balance this against the axial resistance matrix of a slender helix, with local coefficient , to obtain the displayed swimming speed and motor power . This is an entrainment approximation, distinct from treating the head as an isolated sphere in stationary fluid.

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