Geometry-induced dynamics of confined chiral active matter

Abstract

Controlling the motion of active matter is a central issue that has recently garnered significant attention in fields ranging from nonequilibrium physics to chemical engineering and biology. Distinct methods for controlling active matter have been developed, and physical confinement to limited space and active matter with broken rotational symmetry (chirality) are two prominent mechanisms. However, the interplay between pattern formation due to physical constraints and the ordering by chiral motion needs to be better understood. In this study, we conduct numerical simulations of chiral self-propelled particles under circular boundary confinement. The collective motion of confined self-propelled particles can take drastically different forms depending on their chirality. The balance of orientation changes between particle interaction and the boundary wall is essential for generating ordered collective motion. Our results clarify the role of the steric boundary effect in controlling chiral active matter.