Fig. 5: Destabilizing the order in both systems.
From: Synchronization in collectively moving inanimate and living active matter
a We approached the critical number of agents at n = 82 by incrementally increasing the number of balls in a circular confinement (D = 0.9 m). Top: Representative trajectories are displayed for both states over an equal time interval of 2 s. They show the transition from a collectively moving state to a Brownian-like motion. Bottom: The steady states’ angular order parameter fluctuates close to unity for a representative time interval of Δt = 25 s. The transition to disorder is evident by the sudden decrease in the angular order parameter when reaching a critical number of agents within the confinement. b Consecutively rendering 4% of the population of balls inactive leads to the breakdown of the order (3 inactive balls within a collective of 73 balls). c Partially inactivating actin polymerization in a subpopulation of cells prevents order from arising (n = 12) (Mean ± SD).
