Emergent Dynamics of Active Systems on Curved Environments

TY - UNPB

T1 - Emergent Dynamics of Active Systems on Curved Environments

AU - Mackay, Euan D.

AU - Janzen, Giulia

AU - Matoz-Fernandez, D. A.

AU - Sknepnek, Rastko

PY - 2025/5/20

Y1 - 2025/5/20

N2 - Curvature plays a central role in the proper function of many biological processes. With active matter being a standard framework for understanding many aspects of the physics of life, it is natural to ask what effect curvature has on the collective behaviour of active matter. In this paper, we use the classical theory of surfaces to explore the active motion of self-propelled agents confined to move on a smooth curved two-dimensional surface embedded in Euclidean space. Even without interactions and alignment, the motion is non-trivially affected by the presence of curvature, leading to effects akin, e.g.\ to gravitational lensing and tidal forces. Such effects can lead to intermittent trapping of particles and profoundly affect their flocking behaviour.

AB - Curvature plays a central role in the proper function of many biological processes. With active matter being a standard framework for understanding many aspects of the physics of life, it is natural to ask what effect curvature has on the collective behaviour of active matter. In this paper, we use the classical theory of surfaces to explore the active motion of self-propelled agents confined to move on a smooth curved two-dimensional surface embedded in Euclidean space. Even without interactions and alignment, the motion is non-trivially affected by the presence of curvature, leading to effects akin, e.g.\ to gravitational lensing and tidal forces. Such effects can lead to intermittent trapping of particles and profoundly affect their flocking behaviour.

U2 - 10.48550/arXiv.2505.24730

DO - 10.48550/arXiv.2505.24730

M3 - Preprint

BT - Emergent Dynamics of Active Systems on Curved Environments

PB - arXiv

ER -