Collective dynamics in systems of active Brownian particles with dissipative interactions

Abstract: We use computer simulations to study the onset of collective motion in systems of interacting active particles. Our model is a swarm of active Brownian particles with internal energy depot and interactions inspired by the dissipative particle dynamics method, imposing pairwise friction force on the nearest neighbours. We study orientational ordering in a 2D system as a function of energy influx rate and particle density. The model demonstrates a transition into the ordered state on increasing the particle density and increasing the input power. Although both the alignment mechanism and the character of individual motion in our model differ from those in the well-studied Vicsek model, it demonstrates identical statistical properties and phase behaviour.