Invasion-wave-induced first-order phase transition in systems of active particles
Abstract
An instability near the transition to collective motion of self-propelled particles is studied numerically by Enskog-like kinetic theory. While hydrodynamics breaks down, the kinetic approach leads to steep solitonlike waves. These supersonic waves show hysteresis and lead to an abrupt jump of the global order parameter if the noise level is changed. Thus they provide a mean-field mechanism to change the second-order character of the phase transition to first order. The shape of the wave is shown to follow a scaling law and to quantitatively agree with agent-based simulations.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review E
- Pub Date:
- October 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevE.88.040303
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1304.0149
- Bibcode:
- 2013PhRvE..88d0303I
- Keywords:
-
- 02.70.Ns;
- 05.20.Dd;
- 64.60.Cn;
- 87.10.-e;
- Molecular dynamics and particle methods;
- Kinetic theory;
- Order-disorder transformations;
- statistical mechanics of model systems;
- General theory and mathematical aspects;
- Physics - Biological Physics;
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics;
- Nonlinear Sciences - Pattern Formation and Solitons
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. E 88, 040303 (2013)