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Surface roughness stabilizes the clustering of self-propelled triangles
Sven Erik Ilse1, Christian Holm1, Joost de Graaf1
1Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|October 27, 2016
Summary
Self-propelled particles form dense phases via motility-induced phase separation. Apex-directed triangles with surface roughness cluster more effectively than base-directed ones, highlighting the role of geometry and roughness in collective dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Soft Matter Physics
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Self-propelled particles exhibit motility-induced phase separation (MIPS), forming dense structures from dilute suspensions.
- MIPS properties depend on particle interactions and activity strength.
- Previous studies primarily investigated simple shapes like spheres, dumbbells, and rods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the collective behavior and structure formation of more complex particle shapes.
- To investigate the influence of geometric complexity and surface roughness on MIPS.
- To analyze the role of particle polarity (apex-directed vs. base-directed movement) in self-organized structures.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
- Triangular self-propelled particles with varying surface roughness were studied.
- The dynamics and resulting structures for apex-directed and base-directed polarities were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Apex-directed triangular particles demonstrated enhanced clustering, greater stability, and smoother cluster interfaces compared to base-directed particles.
- Surface roughness was found to be crucial for the stability of structures formed by base-directed triangles.
- A reversed clustering outcome was observed compared to previous studies on similar systems.
Conclusions:
- Particle shape, polarity, and surface roughness significantly influence motility-induced phase separation.
- Apex-directed triangles with surface roughness are more effective at forming stable, dense phases.
- This study provides a foundation for understanding the impact of roughness on the dynamics of complex swimmers.
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