Large-scale dynamics in visual quorum sensing chiral suspensions

Abstract

Motility induced phase separation is an efficient aggregation mechanism of active matter, yet biological systems exhibit richer organization through communication among constituents. We investigate suspensions of active particles that change chirality when neighbor density within their visual cone exceeds a threshold, a communication based non-reciprocal interaction akin to quorum sensing. Tuning the visual cone triggers programmable transitions: from disorder to phase separation to hyper-uniformity. Notably, phase separation triggers large-scale circulation, with robust edge currents persistently flowing around dense clusters, while particle distributions inside become effectively hyper-uniform. These are genuine non-reciprocal effects which occur even in the absence of steric interactions. Remarkably, in active-passive mixtures, only 5% quorum-sensing chiral particles suffice to induce collective circulation. Thus, simple perception-based rules can generate life-like order, offering design principles for programmable active materials and micro-robotic swarms.