Polar vs. apolar alignment in systems of polar self-propelled particles

Fernando Peruani (1) , Francesco Ginelli (2) , Markus Baer (3) , Hugues Chaté (2)

1 MPI-PKS - Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
2 SPEC - UMR3680 - Service de physique de l'état condensé
3 PTB - Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt [Berlin]

The symmetry of the alignment mechanism in systems of polar self-propelled particles determines the possible macroscopic large-scale patterns that can emerge. Here we compare polar and apolar alignment. These systems share some common features like giant number fluctuations in the ordered phase and self-segregation in the form of bands near the onset of orientational order. Despite these similarities, there are essential differences like the symmetry of the ordered phase and the stability of the bands.

Domaines: Biophysique [physics.bio-ph]

Fernando Peruani, Francesco Ginelli, Markus Baer, Hugues Chaté. Polar vs. apolar alignment in systems of polar self-propelled particles. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2011, 297 (1), pp.012014. ⟨10.1088/1742-6596/297/1/012014⟩. ⟨hal-00905221⟩