Optimal noise maximizes collective motion in heterogeneous media

Abstract

We study the effect of spatial heterogeneity on the collective motion of self-propelled particles (SPPs). The heterogeneity is modeled as a random distribution of either static or diffusive obstacles, which the SPPs avoid while trying to align their movements. We find that such obstacles have a dramatic effect on the collective dynamics of usual SPP models. In particular, we report about the existence of an optimal (angular) noise amplitude that maximizes collective motion. We also show that while at low obstacle densities the system exhibits long-range order, in strongly heterogeneous media collective motion is quasi-long-range and exists only for noise values in between two critical noise values, with the system being disordered at both, large and low noise amplitudes. Since most real system have spatial heterogeneities, the finding of an optimal noise intensity has immediate practical and fundamental implications for the design and evolution of collective motion strategies.

to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett

References in corpus (8)

• Novel type of phase transition in a system of self-driven particles
• Non-equilibrium clustering of self-propelled rods
• Collective motion and nonequilibrium cluster formation in colonies of gliding bacteria
• Pattern formation in self-propelled particles with density-dependent motility
• Collective Motion due to escape and pursuit response
• Minimal model for active nematics: quasi-long-range order and giant fluctuations
• Traffic jams, gliders, and bands in the quest for collective motion
• A mean-field theory for self-propelled particles interacting by velocity alignment mechanisms

Cited by in corpus (74)

• Active Particles in Complex and Crowded Environments
• Depinning and nonequilibrium dynamic phases of particle assemblies driven over random and ordered substrates: a review
• Diffusion, subdiffusion, and trapping of active particles in heterogeneous media
• Distortion and destruction of colloidal flocks in disordered environments
• Active Matter Transport and Jamming on Disordered Landscapes
• The topography of the environment alters the optimal search strategy for active particles
• Optimal steering of a smart active particle
• Dynamic Phases of Active Matter Systems with Quenched Disorder
• Motility-induced phase separation of active particles in the presence of velocity alignment
• Flocking in complex environments -- attention trade-offs in collective information processing
• Swarming in the Dirt: Ordered Flocks with Quenched Disorder
• How many dissenters does it take to disorder a flock?
• Chemotactic smoothing of collective migration
• Breakdown of Ergodicity and Self-Averaging in Polar Flocks with Quenched Disorder
• Emergence of dynamic vortex glasses in disordered polar active fluids
• Clogging and Depinning of Ballistic Active Matter Systems in Disordered Media
• Susceptibility of Polar Flocks to Spatial Anisotropy
• Disorder-Induced Long-Ranged Correlations in Scalar Active Matter
• Active particles in heterogeneous media display new physics: existence of optimal noise and absence of bands and long-range order
• Hydrodynamic Theory of Flocking in the Presence of Quenched Disorder
• Dynamic clustering of passive colloids in dense suspensions of motile bacteria
• Avalanche Dynamics for Active Matter in Heterogeneous Media
• Active Brownian and inertial particles in disordered environments: short-time expansion of the mean-square displacement
• Enhanced dynamics of active Brownian particles in periodic obstacle arrays and corrugated channels
• The 2024 Motile Active Matter Roadmap
• Polar flock in the presence of random quenched rotators
• Laning and Clustering Transitions in Driven Binary Active Matter Systems
• Crowding-Enhanced Diffusion: An Exact Theory for Highly Entangled Self-Propelled Stiff Filaments
• Topology-driven ordering of flocking matter
• Small Obstacle in a Large Polar Flock
• Collective Transport for Active Matter Run and Tumble Disk Systems on a Traveling Wave Substrate
• Negative Differential Mobility and Trapping in Active Matter Systems
• Capillary action in scalar active matter
• Ramifications of disorder on active particles in one dimension
• Dewetting and Spreading Transitions for Active Matter on Random Pinning Substrates
• Contrarian compulsions produce time dependent flocking of active particles
• Residence time estimates for asymmetric simple exclusion dynamics on stripes
• Speed inhomogeneity accelerates the information transfer in polar flock
• A geometric approach to self-propelled motion in isotropic and anisotropic environments
• Packed swarms on dirt: two-dimensional incompressible flocks with quenched and annealed disorder
• Controlled Fluidization, Mobility and Clogging in Obstacle Arrays Using Periodic Perturbations
• Clogging, Dynamics and Reentrant Fluid for Active Matter on Periodic Substrates
• Active nematics with quenched disorder
• Motile dissenters disrupt the flocking of active granular matter
• Ordering dynamics of self-propelled particles in an inhomogeneous medium
• Metastable Clusters and Channels Formed by Active Particles with Aligning Interactions
• Motion of an active particle with dynamical disorder
• Transport and phase separation of active Brownian particles in fluctuating environments
• Controlling the transport of active matter in disorderd lattices of asymmetrical obstacles
• Active Matter Shepherding and Clustering in Inhomogeneous Environments
• Hydrodynamic Equations for Flocking Models without Velocity Alignment
• Obstruction enhances the diffusivity of self-propelled rod-like particles
• The microscopic phase density functional approach to the construction of the kinetic and hydrodynamic description for the system of self-propelled particles
• Hydrodynamic theory of two-dimensional incompressible polar active fluids with quenched and annealed disorder
• Polar swimmers induce several phases in active nematics
• Active uniaxially ordered suspensions on disordered substrates
• Bond disorder enhances the information transfer in polar flock
• Self-propulsion and self-navigation: Activity is a precursor to jamming
• Polarization and dynamic phases of aligning active matter in periodic obstacle arrays
• Incompressible polar active fluids with quenched disorder in dimensions $d>2$
• Polar flock with bond disorder
• Pedestrians moving in dark: Balancing measures and playing games on lattices
• How environment affects active particle swarms: a case study
• The collective motion of self-propelled particles affected by the spatial-dependent noise
• Local interactions in active matter are reinforced by spatial structure
• Nonquenched rotators ease flocking and memorise it
• Active matter clusters at interfaces
• Aggregation of self-propelled particles with sensitivity to local order
• Active nematic gel with quenched disorder
• Flocking with random non-reciprocal interactions
• Pattern Formation and Flocking for Particles Near the Jamming Transition on Resource Gradient Substrates
• Active particles in reactive disordered media: how does adsorption affects diffusion?
• Field-controlled interfacial transport and pinning in an active spin system
• Susceptibility of Orientationally-Ordered Active Matter to Chirality Disorder