Emergent behavior in Spinning Active Matter

Synchronization is a ubiquitous phenomenon, relevant both for living and synthetic systems . It constitutes the adjustment of rhythms of oscillating objects due to their weak interactions. Synchronization occurs widely in the natural and technological worlds, from the rhythm of applause and neuron firing to the quantum mechanics of coupled Josephson junction. Note , that it requires oscillating object that are autonomous (active), converting a source of energy into an oscillatory movement. In particular, resonance and forced oscillations are not synchronization and will not be addressed here. At microscale, a scale dominated by noise, the coordination of components is arduous and requires a fine balance between interactions and feedback. However, spontaneous synchronization is ubiquitous in nature and essential to life: motility of microorganisms, nutrient transport or clearance of pathogens from mammalian airways. From a practical perspective, synchronization offers a robust method that propagates the microscopic dynamics of animate constituents across multiple length scales to give rise to emergent macroscale dynamics. Despite its ubiquity, testing theoretical models of synchronization remains challenging due to the lack of suitable model systems for which all relevant microscopic parameters are under experimental control. This proposal is experiment- driven and leverages tools of Active Matter to realize three unique experimental systems, as model platforms for the study of synchronization of noisy oscillators coupled by physical interactions. The different physical couplings between the systems as well as the unique capabilities of control of each system are an asset of our approach, shining a broad light on the universal character of synchronization. The proposed experimental systems will enable quantitative testing of models of synchronization and investigate spatiotemporal collective dynamics. More broadly, our results will illuminate how spatial control of activity and frustration can fundamentally steer a systems dynamics in specific spatial arrangements. The orchestration of microscopic oscillators will ultimately provide a blueprint for the design and control of synchronized matter, allowing for long-range transport of information and matter.