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A note on Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in flocks of birds

Published 8 years agoVersion 1arXiv:1702.08067

Authors

Alejandra Melfo

Categories

physics.bio-ph

Abstract

It is suggested that the observed scale-free correlations of speed fluctuations in flocks of birds are a consequence of the spontaneous breakdown of translational symmetry to a discrete group, and not an indication that the system is near a critical point in phase space. The observed long-range correlation length could then be attributed to the presence of a phonon mode in the flock.

A note on Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in flocks of birds

8 years ago
v1
1 author

Categories

physics.bio-ph

Abstract

It is suggested that the observed scale-free correlations of speed fluctuations in flocks of birds are a consequence of the spontaneous breakdown of translational symmetry to a discrete group, and not an indication that the system is near a critical point in phase space. The observed long-range correlation length could then be attributed to the presence of a phonon mode in the flock.

Authors

Alejandra Melfo

arXiv ID: 1702.08067
Published Feb 26, 2017

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