Swarming and Flocking Unified Through Aggregation

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Lizárraga, Joao, de Aguiar, Marcus
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Lizárraga, Joao
de Aguiar, Marcus
author_facet Lizárraga, Joao
de Aguiar, Marcus
contents Natural flocks (aligned) and swarms (non-aligned) both exhibit features of near-criticality, challenging their treatment as two ends of the same phase transition. We present a model for the aggregation of active individuals, in which their velocities align as a byproduct of achieving stable cohesion. In our framework, individuals move in open space and possess differing self-propelling velocities. Furthermore, velocity fluctuations are triggered by individual errors when following the aggregation rules. Notably, the system exhibits scale invariance, which is shown to be rooted in the model's definition -- a feature that we label as structural criticality. Finally, we show the emergence of a striking regime where spatial and orientational coherence decouple. That is, the system can achieve states of high and low polarization while maintaining spatial homogeneity.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_05140
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Swarming and Flocking Unified Through Aggregation
Lizárraga, Joao
de Aguiar, Marcus
Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems
Statistical Mechanics
Biological Physics
Natural flocks (aligned) and swarms (non-aligned) both exhibit features of near-criticality, challenging their treatment as two ends of the same phase transition. We present a model for the aggregation of active individuals, in which their velocities align as a byproduct of achieving stable cohesion. In our framework, individuals move in open space and possess differing self-propelling velocities. Furthermore, velocity fluctuations are triggered by individual errors when following the aggregation rules. Notably, the system exhibits scale invariance, which is shown to be rooted in the model's definition -- a feature that we label as structural criticality. Finally, we show the emergence of a striking regime where spatial and orientational coherence decouple. That is, the system can achieve states of high and low polarization while maintaining spatial homogeneity.
title Swarming and Flocking Unified Through Aggregation
topic Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems
Statistical Mechanics
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.05140