Abstract
The flagellum in many predatory flagellates is equipped with rigid hairs, which reverse the direction of thrust to generate a feeding current. We have discovered a novel mechanism for thrust generation with hairy flagella, which is fundamentally different from the slender body theory governing smooth flagella. We show that the thrust is generated at the crests of the flagellar wave, thanks to the key role of hydrodynamic interactions among hairs, effectively functioning like a sheet. The mechanism suggests that the optimal flagellum should be long and curvy, consistent with the diverse designs of hairy flagella observed in nature.
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