Deformable self-propelled particles

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical model for deformable self-propelled particles in two dimensions, revealing a bifurcation from straight to circular motion and exploring collective dynamics with orientational order.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled set of equations linking velocity and deformation, providing new insights into the motion transition and collective behavior of deformable active particles.

Findings

Bifurcation from straight to circular motion identified.

Numerical simulations show collective orientational order.

Deformation influences particle dynamics and interactions.

Abstract

A theory of self-propelled particles is developed in two dimensions assuming that the particles can be deformed from a circular shape when the propagating velocity is increased. A coupled set of equations in terms of the velocity and a tensor variable to represent the deformation is introduced to show that there is a bifurcation from a straight motion to a circular motion of a single particle. Dynamics of assembly of the particles is studied numerically where there is a global interaction such that the particles tend to cause an orientational order.