Fig. 1: Active particles in complex energy landscapes.
From: Patchy energy landscapes promote stability of small groups of active particles
a Trajectory of an active particle in a spatially complex distribution of energy, with high light intensities in green. The particle self-propels, avoiding the most intense illumination. The trajectory displays the particle’s centre position over 50 minutes. b, c As the particles prefer to stay in the dark areas, the group size appears to be determined by the spatial characteristics of the environment--σe, i.e. the average size of the energy patches. Groups are smaller when the patchiness of the environment is comparable to the particles' dimensions than in homogeneous environments, as shown in b and c, respectively. Particles in groups (more than two individuals) are coloured pink, while isolated particles and pairs are grey.
