Focusing by blocking: Repeatedly generating central density peaks in self-propelled particle systems by exploiting diffusive processes. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Menzel, Andreas M.
• Is Part Of: Europhysics letters. Volume 110:Number 3(2015:May)
• Page Start: 59
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Physics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/110/38005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0295-5075

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Over the past few years the displacement statistics of self-propelled particles has been intensely studied, revealing their long-time diffusive behavior. Here, we demonstrate that a concerted combination of boundary conditions and switching on and off the self-propelling drive can generate and afterwards arbitrarily often restore a non-stationary centered peak in their spatial distribution. This corresponds to a partial reversibility of their statistical behavior, in opposition to the above-mentioned long-time diffusive nature. Interestingly, it is a diffusive process that mediates and makes possible this procedure. It should be straightforward to verify our predictions in a real experimental system.</p> </abstract>