Propagating wave in the flock of self-propelled particles

Abstract

We investigate the linearized hydrodynamic equations of interacting self-propelled particles in two dimensional space. It is found that the small perturbations of density and polarization fields satisfy the hyperbolic partial differential equations---that admit analytical propagating wave solutions. These solutions uncover the questionable traveling band formation in the flocking state of self-propelled particles. Below the critical noise strength, an unstable disordered state (random motion) undergoes a transient vortex and evolves to an ordered state (flocking motion) as unidirectional traveling waves. There appear two possible longitudinal wave patterns depending on the noise strength, including single band in stable state and multiplebands in unstable state. A comparison of theoretical and experimental studies is presented.