Unjamming of active rotators

Active particle assemblies can exhibit a wide range of interesting dynamical phases depending on internal parameters such as density, adhesion strength or self-propulsion. Active self-rotations are rarely studied in this context, although they can be relevant for active matter systems, as we illustr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2020-06, Vol.16 (23), p.5478-5486
Main Authors: Ravazzano, Linda, Bonfanti, Silvia, Lionetti, Maria Chiara, Fumagalli, Maria Rita, Guerra, Roberto, Chepizhko, Oleksandr, La Porta, Caterina A. M, Zapperi, Stefano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adhesion
Adhesive strength
Algae
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii - physiology
Computer Simulation
Disks
Jamming
Models, Biological
Motion
Phase diagrams
Torque
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Summary:Active particle assemblies can exhibit a wide range of interesting dynamical phases depending on internal parameters such as density, adhesion strength or self-propulsion. Active self-rotations are rarely studied in this context, although they can be relevant for active matter systems, as we illustrate by analyzing the motion of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii algae under different experimental conditions. Inspired by this example, we simulate the dynamics of a system of interacting active disks endowed with active torques and self-propulsive forces. At low packing fractions, adhesion causes the formation of small rotating clusters, resembling those observed when algae are stressed. At higher densities, the model shows a jamming to unjamming transition promoted by active torques and hindered by adhesion. We also study the interplay between self-propulsion and self-rotation and derive a phase diagram. Our results yield a comprehensive picture of the dynamics of active rotators, providing useful guidance to interpret experimental results in cellular systems where rotations might play a role. Active particle assemblies can exhibit a wide range of interesting dynamical phases depending on internal parameters such as density, adhesion strength or self-propulsion.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/d0sm00440e