Field-mediated interactions of passive and conformation-active particles: multibody and retardation effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates how particles in soft matter interact via deformation fields, exploring multibody effects, activity-driven patterns, and retardation phenomena through a simplified interaction model.

Contribution

It introduces a generic model for field-mediated interactions, analyzing multibody effects and activity-driven patterns in passive and active particles with conformational switching.

Findings

Multibody interactions significantly influence particle arrangements.

Activity can induce pattern formation in particle systems.

Retardation effects alter interaction dynamics over time.

Abstract

Particles in soft matter often interact through the deformation field they create, as in the "cheerios" effect or the curvature-mediated interactions of membrane proteins. Using a simple model for field-mediated interactions between passive particles, or active particles that switch conformation randomly or synchronously, we derive generic results concerning multibody interactions, activity driven patterns, and retardation effects.