Non-reciprocal multifarious self-organization

Journal article

We present a computational study of the pairwise interactions between defects in the recently introduced non-reciprocal Cahn-Hilliard model. The evolution of a defect pair exhibits dependence upon their corresponding topological charges, initial separation, and the non-reciprocity coupling constant $α$. We find that the stability of isolated topologically neutral targets significantly affects the pairwise defect interactions. At large separations, defect interactions are negligible and a defect pair is stable. When positioned in relatively close proximity, a pair of oppositely charged spirals or targets merge to form a single target. At low $α$, like-charged spirals form rotating bound pairs, which are however torn apart by spontaneously formed targets at high $α$. Similar preference for charged or neutral solutions is also seen for a spiral target pair where the spiral dominates at low $α$, but concedes to the target at large $α$. Our work sheds light on the complex phenomenology of non-reciprocal active matter systems when their collective dynamics involves topological defects

Authors: Osat, S; Golestanian, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Nature Nanotechnology
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 79-85
• Publication date: 2022-12-12
• DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01258-2
• EISSN: 1748-3395
• ISSN: 1748-3387
• Language: English
• Keywords: Living systems; Process (computing); Self-organization; Artificial intelligence; Reciprocal; Computer science; Set (abstract data type)