Hierarchical collective motion of a mixture of active dipolar Janus particles and passive charged colloids in two dimensions.

Abstract

We use computer simulations to study the behavior of a mixture of large passive charged colloids in a suspension of smaller active dipolar Janus particles. We find that when a single charged colloid is present in solution, it acquires a rotational or translational motion depending on how the active dipoles self-assemble on its surface to form active complexes. The collective behavior of these complexes is quite remarkable, and includes swarming behavior and coherent macroscopic motion. We detail how the variety of different phenomenologies emerging in this system can ultimately be controlled by the strength of the active forces and the relative concentration of the two species.