The statistical physics of flocks and swarms
Seminario generale
APS Delbruck Prize 2021
Speaker: Irene Giardina, Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita' di Roma La Sapienza
Luogo: Aula Conversi
Data: Martedì 09 Novembre 2021
Orario: 16.00-18:00
Abstract:
Flocks and swarms represent iconic examples of living active matter, where motile interacting individuals give rise to emergent global patterns. Despite the great complexity of their biological components, these groups obey robust statistical laws and can be described within a statistical physics approach. In this talk I will review our current understanding of these systems. Using experimental evidence and theoretical modelling I will show how conservation laws, interactions and motility combine together leading to non-trivial dynamics and out-of-equilibrium features on the large scale. Our analysis explains the mechanistic origin of efficient collective behaviour in living groups and unveils new challenges in the statistical physics of active systems.