Self-propelled particles undergoing persistent motion can accumulate either through excluded-volume interactions or through quorum sensing, where self-propulsion decreases at high local density. Using kinetic balance theory and simulations, we show that the interplay of these two mechanisms produces a reentrant, non-monotonic behavior in which clustering passes through a pronounced minimum as quorum-sensing strength or persistence time varies. Beyond a threshold quorum-sensing strength, we find long-lived transient states that retain memory of initial conditions, including kinetically arrested active gels. Although quorum sensing can mimic attractive interactions, it also acts strongly in dilute regions, producing an effective cluster bistability that is captured by our theory. Our results explain collective states observed experimentally in synthetic and biological active systems.
Microphase Separation in Quorum-Sensing Active Particles with Competing Interactions
University of Luxembourg（卢森堡大学）；ISC-CNR, Institute for Complex Systems（复杂系统研究所（ISC-CNR））；NANOTEC-CNR, Soft and Living Matter Laboratory, Institute of Nanotechnology（纳米技术研究所软物质与生命物质实验室（NANOTEC-CNR））
Understanding quorum sensing self-organization: Clustering and defect-induced ordering of diffusing particles
MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro-Structured Materials, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University（同济大学物理科学与工程学院先进微结构材料教育部重点实验室）；Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel（布鲁塞尔自由大学化学工程系）
Active Cahn-Hilliard theory for nonequilibrium phase separation: quantitative macroscopic predictions and a microscopic derivation
Service de Physique de l’État Condensé, CEA, CNRS Université Paris-Saclay（凝聚态物理服务处，法国原子能和替代能源委员会，法国国家科学研究中心，巴黎萨克雷大学）；DAMTP, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge（剑桥大学应用数学与理论物理系，数学科学中心）；Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée（索邦大学，法国国家科学研究中心，凝聚态物质理论物理实验室）
