Effect of noise and particle density in the dynamic network formed by Vicsek model of swarming mobile agents

Abstract

Different swarming behaviors in a population of moving agents are simulated using Vicsek Model (VM). Agents, under this model, follow a simple interaction rule wherein they adopt the motion of their neighbors with the influence of noise. These local interactions trigger the emergence of complex spatiotemporal network of self-propelled agents. In this study, we perform a simple characterization of the network formed via the VM dynamics and establish a link between network connectivity and the collective movement patterns observed in the model. The average degree 〈k〉, largest cluster size 〈N_G〉, and global order parameter 〈Φ〉 are calculated for different particle densities ρ and noise strengths η. For a given η, 〈k〉 shows a linear relationship with ρ while 〈N_G〉 displayed a sigmoidal behavior. Two transition points are identified in the 〈N_G〉 vs. 〈k〉 plots and it appears that introducing noise in the system shifts these points higher or lower depending on its strength.