Control of micrometric Ni particles and particle chains in a fluid driven by rotating magnetic fields

Abstract

In this work, we present a study on the propulsion of dispersed magnetic particles in a viscous fluid under the application of a rotating magnetic field. We analyze the net translational movement that arises from the hydrodynamic coupling with the bottom plate and we find that, for clusters of up to three particles, there is a cooperative effect that makes them move faster than individual particles. In turn, the particles are driven in highly controlled complex trajectories by rotating the plane containing the vector of the magnetic field. Successive particle chains fragmentation and recombination is also described.