Nucleation-induced transition to collective motion in active systems

作者:Weber Christoph A*; Schaller Volker; Bausch Andreas R; Frey Erwin
来源:Physical Review E, 2012, 86(3): 030901.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.86.030901

摘要

While the existence of polar ordered states in active systems is well established, the dynamics of the self-assembly processes are still elusive. We study a lattice gas model of self-propelled elongated particles interacting through excluded volume and alignment interactions, which shows a phase transition from an isotropic to a polar ordered state. By analyzing the ordering process we find that the transition is driven by the formation of a critical nucleation cluster and a subsequent coarsening process. Moreover, the time to establish a polar ordered state shows a power-law divergence.

  • 出版日期2012-9-26