Collective Alignment Controls Energy Transfer in Confined Active Matter

Active agents can reshape their environment by exerting mechanical work through collective migration or accumulation near boundaries. We investigate the optimal conditions for mechanical work transfer in confined active matter using a model of self-propelled particles with aligning interactions governed by a Kuramoto-type synchronization term. First, we confine particles within reflective boundaries and identify distinct dynamical regimes emerging from the interplay between synchronization and self-propulsion. Introducing frictional boundaries, we then quantify the transferred work by measuring momentum exchange and the rotational kinetic energy of pinned boundaries. Our results reveal how collective alignment and motility control the efficiency of energy transfer from active matter to its surroundings, offering a framework relevant to systems ranging from single-cell migration to bio-inspired robotic design.