Paper detail

Unidirectional laning and migrating cluster crystals in confined self-propelled particle systems

One standard approach to describe the collective behaviour of self-propelled particles is the Vicsek model: point-like self-propelled particles tend to align their migration directions to the ones of their nearer neighbours at each time-step. Here we use a variant of the Vicsek model that includes pairwise repulsive interactions. Confining the system between parallel walls can qualitatively change its appearance: a laning state can emerge that is different from the ones previously reported. All lanes show on average the same migration direction of the contained particles with a finite separation distance between the lanes. Furthermore, in certain parameter ranges we observe collectively migrating clusters that arrange in an approximately hexagonal way. We suggest that the mechanism behind these regular textures is an overreaction in the alignment mechanism. Considering the more realistic scenario of non-point-like particles in the presence of confining surfaces is generally important for the comparison to experimental systems.