18 research outputs found
Collective Motion and Phase Transitions of Symmetric Camphor Boats
The motion of several self-propelled boats in a narrow channel displays
spontaneous pattern formation and kinetic phase transitions. In contrast with
previous studies on self-propelled particles, this model does not require
stochastic fluctuations and it is experimentally accessible. By varying the
viscosity in the system, it is possible to form either a stationary state,
correlated or uncorrelated oscillations, or unidirectional flow. Here, we
describe and analyze these self organized patterns and their transitions.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure