Fluctuating diffusion-limited aggregates

TL;DR

This paper investigates a novel form of diffusion-limited aggregation where the constituent units are mobile during growth, combining equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes to influence the structure and connectivity of the aggregate.

Contribution

It introduces a new model of DLA with mobile units, integrating annealed and quenched processes to explore structural and connectivity changes.

Findings

Mobility of units affects aggregate structure.

Thermally driven motion modifies connectivity statistics.

The model spans equilibrium and non-equilibrium regimes.

Abstract

We study the structure and growth of a difusion-limited aggregate (DLA) for which the constitutive units remain mobile during the aggregation process. Contrary to DLA where far from equilibrium conditions are the prevalent factor for growth, the structure of the aggregate is here determined by a combination of annealed and quenched processes. The internal flexibility allows the aggregate to span the equilibrium configurational space, and such thermally driven motion further modifies the connectivity statistics of the growing branched structure.