Kinetic theory of flocking: derivation of hydrodynamic equations

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2011 Mar;83(3 Pt 1):030901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.83.030901. Epub 2011 Mar 16.

Abstract

It is shown how to explicitly coarse-grain the microscopic dynamics of the rule-based Vicsek model for self-propelled agents. The hydrodynamic equations are derived by means of an Enskog-type kinetic theory. Expressions for all transport coefficients are given. The transition from a disordered to a flocking state, which at large particle speeds appears to be a fluctuation-induced first-order phase transition, is studied numerically and analytically.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.