Self Organization and a Dynamical Transition in Traffic Flow Models

TL;DR

This paper presents a two-dimensional traffic flow model revealing a sharp transition from free-flowing to jammed traffic, highlighting self-organization effects in both phases.

Contribution

It introduces a simple 2D traffic model demonstrating a clear jamming transition and analyzes self-organization phenomena in both phases.

Findings

Identifies a sharp jamming transition separating free and jammed phases.

Shows self-organization effects occur in both phases.

Provides insights into traffic flow dynamics and phase transition.

Abstract

A simple model that describes traffic flow in two dimensions is studied. A sharp {\it jamming transition } is found that separates between the low density dynamical phase in which all cars move at maximal speed and the high density jammed phase in which they are all stuck. Self organization effects in both phases are studied and discussed.