Physics Colloquium

3:30–4:30 pm Maria Goeppert-Mayer Lecture Hall

Statistical Mechanics of Collective Behavior

Theirry Mora, CNRS

Some animal groups behave in a highly coordinated way reminiscent of ordered phases in physics. However, animals are also heterogeneous, have memory, and operate out of equilibrium. I will present recent attempts at modeling the complex dynamics of social groups of mice interacting freely in a controlled environment. I will then assess how far from equilibrium collective behaviour might be, both in recordings of real bird flocks and in flocking models.

Event Type

Colloquia and Lectures

Oct 12