Cluster formation, order and aggregation in Active Matter: different classes of active phase separation

In active systems, phase separation can be induced by a variety of mechanisms. In the Vicsek model, velocity alignment mediates the formation of clusters and phase separation in the form of polar bands. In self-propelled disk (SPD) systems, repulsive interactions lead to what has been called as motility-induced phase separation. For self-propelled rods, torques and forces lead to a phase separation process distinct from the one observed in the Vicsek model or SPD. Here, combining simulations and mean-field calculations, we demonstrate how the interplay of attraction and velocity-alignment interaction leads to a variety of phase separation processes and unveils two novel types of condensation classes.

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