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arXiv · 1812.10288

Flocking of Active Particles in a Turbulent Flow

Abstract

We investigate the effect of cooperative interactions in an ensemble of microorganisms, modelled as self-propelled disk-like and rod-like particles, in a three-dimensional turbulent flow to show flocking as an emergent phenomenon. Building on the work by Choudhary, et al. [Europhys. Lett. 112, 24005 (2015)] for two-dimensional systems, and combining ideas from active matter and turbulent transport, we show that non-trivial correlations between the flow and individual dynamics are essential for the microorganisms to flock in, for example, a turbulent three-dimensional, marine environment. Our results may have implications especially in the modelling of artificial microswimmers in a hostile environment.

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BibTeXRIS

Anupam Gupta, Amal Roy, Arnab Saha, Samriddhi Sankar Ray. 2018-12-26. Flocking of Active Particles in a Turbulent Flow. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevfluids.5.052601

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