Contractile Active Matter — Actomyosin Cytoskeleton
Self-propelled polar particles with alignment; ±½ defect dynamics in active nematic
Particles N:
200
Activity ζ:
1.00
Alignment K:
2.00
Noise η:
0.30
Speed v₀:
1.00
Reinitialize
Active polar fluid model
Vicsek-like alignment + activity
Contractile: ζ < 0 → asters
Extensile: ζ > 0 → extensile jets
±½ defects (nematic symmetry)
Defects self-propel in active nematics