Symmetry-protected phases in a 1D active solid with mechanochemical feedback

Abstract

We present a framework for mechanochemical self-organization in active solids where elasticity is reciprocally coupled to Hopf oscillators. Our model reveals a rich landscape of symmetry-protected phases, identified through amplitude equations and group-theoretic analysis. We uncover a universal transition to compression-driven oscillation death (COD), providing a physical basis for localized signaling dampening in biological tissues that resolves inconsistencies in previous models. Our work demonstrates that complex self-organization in active solids can be classified purely through symmetry arguments.

7 pages (main text), 7 figures