paper

Mean-field analysis of a dynamical phase transition in a cellular automaton model for collective motion

arXiv:physics/9706008 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.5018

Abstract

A cellular automaton model is presented for random walkers with biologically motivated interactions favoring local alignment and leading to collective motion or swarming behavior. The degree of alignment is controlled by a sensitivity parameter, and a dynamical phase transition exhibiting spontaneous breaking of rotational symmetry occurs at a critical parameter value. The model is analyzed using nonequilibrium mean field theory: Dispersion relations for the critical modes are derived, and a phase diagram is constructed. Mean field predictions for the two critical exponents describing the phase transition as a function of sensitivity and density are obtained analytically.

4 pages, 4 figures, final version as published

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