Dynamics and Steady State of Squirmer Motion in Liquid Crystal

Explore a 10-minute presentation on the paper "Dynamics and steady state of squirmer motion in liquid crystal" by Leonid Berlyand, Hai Chi, Mykhailo Potomkin, and Nung Kwan Yip, delivered by Mykhailo Potomkin from the University of California. Delve into the analysis of a nonlinear partial differential equation system describing microswimmer motion in a nematic liquid crystal environment. Learn about the squirmer model used for microswimmer motility and the Beris–Edwards formulation for liquid crystal description. Discover the findings from previous computational studies showing how squirmers orient themselves parallel or perpendicular to the liquid crystal's preferred orientation. Gain insights into the rigorous establishment of steady-state existence and finite-time existence for the time-dependent problem in a periodic domain. Examine the use of a two-scale asymptotic expansion to derive a homogenized model for collective squirmer swimming as they reach steady-state orientation and speed. Published in the European Journal of Applied Mathematics in 2023, this presentation offers a concise overview of cutting-edge research in microswimmer dynamics within liquid crystal environments.