Shape Evolution and Dynamics of Deformable Ring

Abstract

We numerically investigate the dynamics of a deformable closed ring filled with active particles. The ring is modeled as a flexible boundary made up of passive beads interacting with a harmonic spring force. The interior of the ring is filled with active Brownian particles (ABPs), and their activity is controlled through the rotational diffusion coefficient. We explore how, by systematically varying the activity of ABPs, packing fraction, and size of the ring, we can control the shape deformation and dynamics of the ring. At low packing fractions, low rotational diffusion coefficients, and smaller ring sizes, the ring exhibits highly irregular and strongly deformed shapes due to the uneven spatial arrangement of active particles along the boundary. Increasing the packing fraction, rotational diffusion coefficient, or ring size promotes a more even distribution of active particles within the ring, thereby suppressing shape deformations and fluctuations, driving the ring toward a more circular shape. We further analyze the mean-squared displacement (MSD) of the ring's center of mass and observe a crossover from ballistic to diffusive dynamics, which can be tuned by varying the system parameters. Our results demonstrate that, despite its internal complexity and deformability, the ring exhibits emergent behavior analogous to that of a single effective active particle. This study provides insight into the collective effects of confined active matter and the resulting macroscopic dynamics of deformable systems.