Programmable active matter across scales

Abstract

Programmable active matter (PAM) combines information processing and energy transduction. The physical embodiment of information could be the direction of magnetic spins, a sequence of molecules, the concentrations of ions, or the shape of materials. Energy transduction involves the transformation of chemical, magnetic, or electrical energies into mechanical energy. A major class of PAM consists of material systems with many interacting units. These units could be molecules, colloids, microorganisms, droplets, or robots. Because the interaction among units determines the properties and functions of PAMs, the programmability of PAMs is largely due to the programmable interactions. Here, we review PAMs across scales, from supramolecular systems to macroscopic robotic swarms. We focus on the interactions at different scales and describe how these (often local) interactions give rise to global properties and functions. The research on PAMs will contribute to the pursuit of generalised crystallography and the study of complexity and emergence. Finally, we ponder on the opportunities and challenges in using PAM to build a soft-matter brain.

The Effect of Different System Parameters on the Movement of Microbial Cells Using Light-Induced Dielectrophoresis

“…The physical manipulation of micrometer-sized particulates finds application in multiple technologies, from microrobots to cell analysis [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Different ways to gain control of the targeted particle in time and space exist and can be classified as direct contact, as in physical tweezers, or contactless, thanks to the induction of a force through the application of a field, such as magnetic or electric fields [ 5 ].…”