J. Fluid Mech., 273, 189-211, 1994.
Movement of magnetic
bacteria in time varying magnetic fields
Bernhard Steinberger, Nikolai Petersen, Harald Petermann,
and Dieter G. Weiss
Abstract
The magnetic moment of magnetic bacteria was determined by
motion analysis in a time-dependent magnetic field. In order to do this, we
had to know the drag which was exerted on the moving bacterium by the
surrounding liquid. In a first approximation the bacterium was supposed to
be an ellipsoid. In order to determine drag coefficients for more complicated
(and realistic) forms, a model experiment was built. In this experiment
enlarged models of bacteria were rotated in a viscous liquid and the torque
acting upon them was measured. Furthermore, computing algorithms were developed
in order to calculate drag coefficients of magnetic bacteria
and to simulate their motion in magnetic fields.