2025/10/17 by Frank Schweitzer, Georges Andres, Schweitzer, Frank +9
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems (nlin.AO) #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Distributed Control Multi-Agent Systems #FOS: Physical sciences #Micro and Nano Robotics #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2510.15656
openalex publication_date 2025/10/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/21 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We study the collective behavior in a stochastic agent-based model of active matter. Provided a critical take-up of energy, agents produce two types of goods x, y that follow a generalized Lotka-Volterra dynamics. For isolated agents, production would either reach a fixed point or diverge. Coupling agents' production via a mean field of x, however, can lead to synchronized oscillations if agents cooperate in the production of x. The production of y supports the emergence of the synchronized dynamics by suppressing fluctuations and mitigating competition between agents, this way stabilizing the production of x. We find that in the synchronized state different groups of agents coexist, each following their own limit cycle. The Kuramoto order parameter is large within groups, and small across groups. The collective state is stable against shocks from agents temporarily switching between cooperation and competition. The model dynamics illustrates the principles of synergetics, i.e., the spontaneous emergence of order given a critical energy supply and cooperative interactions.