Quincke rotor near a plane boundary
Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 023701 – Published 2 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/vrc1-vlbs
Abstract
The dynamics of a spherical particle undergoing Quincke electrorotation in the vicinity of a planar electrode are investigated. Using a multipole representation of the electric field, the influence of the electrode is incorporated through the method of images. Starting from the Taylor–Melcher leaky dielectric model and enforcing conservation of linear and angular momentum, we derive the evolution equations for the electric multipole moments and the particle trajectory. As the first step, a simplified scenario that neglects motion normal to the electrode is considered. Linear stability analysis of this reduced model reveals that the presence of the nearby boundary raises the threshold for Quincke electrorotation and the onset of chaotic dynamics. Numerical simulations of the simplified setting reveal that increasing the electric field induces a transition from steady rolling to periodic and then chaotic oscillations, with the onset threshold depending on the particle–surface gap and particle inertia. Full simulations that also allow normal motion of the particle show that electrostatic attraction reduces the gap, which in turn suppresses chaotic behavior and reestablishes a steady rolling state.
