Large-scale collective properties of self-propelled rods

TL;DR

This paper investigates the large-scale behaviors of self-propelled rods with nematic alignment in two dimensions, revealing unique phenomena distinct from polar and active nematic models, using a minimal and scalable approach.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified model for self-propelled rods that enables large-scale analysis and uncovers new collective behaviors not seen in more complex models.

Findings

Revealed novel large-scale collective phenomena in self-propelled rods.

Demonstrated differences from polar and active nematic models.

Enabled analysis of large particle systems with minimal assumptions.

Abstract

We study, in two space dimensions, the large-scale properties of collections of constant-speed polar point particles interacting locally by nematic alignment in the presence of noise. This minimal approach to self-propelled rods allows one to deal with large numbers of particles, revealing a phenomenology previously unseen in more complicated models, and moreover distinctively different from both that of the purely polar case (e.g. the Vicsek model) and of active nematics.