SWIMMING OF MICROORGANISMS VIEWED FROM STRING AND MEMBRANE THEORIES

Swimming of micro-organisms is studied from a viewpoint of extended ob jects (strings and membranes) swimming in the incompressible fluid of low Reynolds number. The flagellated motion is analyzed in two-dimensi onal fluid, by using the method developed in the ciliated motion with the Joukowski transformation. Discussion is given on the conserved cha rges and the algebra which are associated with the area (volume)-prese rving diffeomorphisms giving the swimming motion of micro-organisms. I t is also suggested that the N-point string- and membrane-like amplitu des are useful for studying the collective swimming motion of micro-or ganisms when fluctuation of the vorticity distribution exists in the s ticky or rubber-like fluid.