{
  "abstract": "Microswimmers near walls and interfaces can switch between qualitatively different modes of motion depending on the slip properties of the neighbouring boundaries. To study this theoretically, a two-dimensional point-singularity model of a microswimmer, which does not self-propel in unbounded fluid, is placed near a flat viscosity discontinuity between two fluids with viscosity ratio $σ$, and also near a partial-slip wall with Navier-slip length $λ$. Using complex-variable methods, the dynamical systems governing the swimmer motion are derived explicitly in both scenarios. Near the viscosity discontinuity, below a universal critical viscosity ratio $σ_c=1/2$, the swimmer is trapped at a fixed height with its stresslet axis normal to the boundary. When $σ=σ_c$ it glides parallel to the boundary at a speed selected by its orientation, with a terminal speed determined by its initial state. For $σ>σ_c$ it oscillates periodically in height and orientation while drifting along the boundary. The dynamics near a partial-slip wall depend on the ratio of the slip length to the length scale of the singularity and are similar in exhibiting an analogous transition at a critical slip length. It is found, however, that the dynamics near a viscosity discontinuity for $σ$ above $σ_c$ are richer than those near the partial-slip boundary, including the existence of a hydrodynamic bound state with zero net displacement over one period. Although the study is limited to two dimensions, these results show how a single boundary parameter organises qualitatively distinct modes of locomotion, in close analogy with slip-induced transitions reported for three-dimensional swimmers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2611.03243",
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Takahiro Kanazawa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Darren Crowdy"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/14rm2pdvd7jkx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2611.03243",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "14rm2pdvd7jkx",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.03243",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.soft"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.bio-ph"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.flu-dyn"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2611.03243",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/14rm2pdvd7jkx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:21:04Z",
      "native_id": "2611.03243",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.03243"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.bio-ph",
      "subfield": "biological-medical"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.soft",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.flu-dyn",
      "subfield": "fluid-dynamics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dynamics of a two-dimensional microswimmer near a slippery boundary",
  "title_text": "Dynamics of a two-dimensional microswimmer near a slippery boundary",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:21:04Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/14rm2pdvd7jkx",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}