Active Matter Within and Around Us: From Self-Propelled Particles to Flocks and Living Forms

This book provides a comprehensive review of active matter, which includes biological and artificial systems that are out of equilibrium and display unusual behaviors. It emphasizes connections between fluid-mechanical, material, biological, and technological aspects and is accessible to a wider scientific community.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 227 pages
Publication date: 17 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the multifaceted world of active matter, a rapidly evolving field encompassing a diverse range of self-organized, self-driven, energy-consuming media or agents. While the majority of naturally occurring examples originate from biological sources, ranging from intracellular structures to swimming and crawling cells, microorganisms, living tissues, bacterial colonies, and bird flocks, the field also encompasses artificial systems, such as colloids and soft robots. Remarkably, these intrinsically out-of-equilibrium systems exhibit a wide array of surprising and unconventional behaviors, defying the constraints of time-reversal symmetry.

The author of this book places great emphasis on the interconnectedness of fluid-mechanical, material, biological, and technological aspects of active matter. By employing a minimal mathematical framework, the author ensures that the content is accessible to a broader scientific audience. The book is lavishly illustrated, providing the reader with a clear and vivid depiction of this captivating field, its diverse phenomena, and the numerous open questions that remain unanswered.

Active matter has emerged as a hot topic in research due to its potential applications in various fields, including materials science, biology, and engineering. By studying the behavior and properties of active matter systems, scientists can develop new materials with enhanced properties, such as self-healing capabilities or self-assembly. Moreover, active matter systems can be used to mimic biological processes, such as cell migration or tissue growth, which can have implications in medical research and tissue engineering.

However, the study of active matter also presents several challenges. One of the biggest challenges is understanding the complex dynamics that govern the behavior of active matter systems. These systems are often characterized by their non-equilibrium nature, which makes it difficult to predict their behavior using traditional mathematical models. Additionally, the interactions between different components of active matter systems can be highly complex, leading to emergent behaviors that are difficult to predict.

To address these challenges, researchers are using a variety of techniques, including experimental methods, numerical simulations, and theoretical models. Experimental methods involve studying the behavior of active matter systems in real-world environments, while numerical simulations allow researchers to simulate the behavior of these systems on a computer. Theoretical models, on the other hand, provide a framework for understanding the underlying principles of active matter behavior.

Despite the challenges, the study of active matter is an exciting and rapidly evolving field with the potential to revolutionize our understanding of matter and energy. As researchers continue to explore the properties and behaviors of active matter systems, they may uncover new insights that could lead to the development of new technologies and materials with unprecedented capabilities.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive review of various aspects of the novel and rapidly developing field of active matter. By emphasizing the connections between fluid-mechanical, material, biological, and technological aspects of active matter, the author aims to make the content accessible to a broader scientific audience. Richly illustrated, the book offers a clear picture of this fascinating field, its diverse phenomena, and the numerous open questions that remain unanswered. The study of active matter holds great promise for the development of new technologies and materials with unprecedented capabilities, and as researchers continue to advance our understanding of this field, we can expect to see exciting developments in the years to come.

Weight: 373g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030684235
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021