Swarming midges as self-propelled particles with long-range interactions

Abstract

In this thesis, we explore the complex dynamics of swarming midges through the lens of the adaptive gravity model, enhanced to include self-propulsion and noise. This study is motivated by the observation that midges, engage in the collective behaviors of swarming, which are disordered self-organization structures. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that our modified model---adaptive gravity model for self-propelled particles---not only reproduces the cohesive behavior observed in natural midge swarms but also elucidates many of their complex dynamical properties. This work contributes to the broader understanding of collective behaviors in biological systems, presenting a novel active matter model that bridges the gap between biological interactions and the emergent complexity of natural swarms.