Self-organization in systems of self-propelled particles

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2001 Jan;63(1 Pt 2):017101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.63.017101. Epub 2000 Dec 18.

Abstract

We investigate a discrete model consisting of self-propelled particles that obey simple interaction rules. We show that this model can self-organize and exhibit coherent localized solutions in one- and in two-dimensions. In one-dimension, the self-organized solution is a localized flock of finite extent in which the density abruptly drops to zero at the edges. In two-dimensions, we focus on the vortex solution in which the particles rotate around a common center and show that this solution can be obtained from random initial conditions, even in the absence of a confining boundary. Furthermore, we develop a continuum version of our discrete model and demonstrate that the agreement between the discrete and the continuum model is excellent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Birds
  • Cell Movement*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Fishes
  • Flight, Animal
  • Mathematical Computing
  • Models, Biological*