Tunable Memory and Activity of Quincke Particles in Micellar Fluid

Abstract

Memory can remarkably modify the collective behavior of active particles. We show that, in a micellar fluid, Quincke particles driven by a square-wave electric field exhibit a frequency-dependent memory. Upon increasing the frequency, a memory of directions emerges, whereas the activity of particles decreases. As the activity is dominated by interaction, Quincke particles aggregate and form dense clusters, in which the memory of the direction is further enhanced due to the stronger electric interactions. The density-dependent memory and activity result in dynamic heterogeneity in flocking and offer a new opportunity for research of collective motions.