Collective ballistic motion explains fast aggregation in adhesive active matter
Emanuel F. Teixeira, Pablo de Castro, Carine P. Beatrici, Heitor C. M. Fernandes, Leonardo G. Brunnet
Published: 2025/8/15
Abstract
Inspired by motile cells in tissue formation, we find that active systems of self-aligning adhesive particles undergo ballistic aggregation through a flocking transition. This kinetic regime emerges when the cluster persistence length grows faster with cluster mass than the intercluster distance does. We also identify and explain distinct non-collective kinetic regimes, including biologically relevant long-lived transients. Our analytical and numerical results offer a unified framework explaining the broad range of experimentally observed aggregation exponents in cellular systems and reveal physical principles potentially critical for timely tissue organization.