{
  "abstract": "Chaotic attractors are typically visualized in an abstract phase space. Here we show that an orientable active particle moving through a steady, two-dimensional, multivortex flow can trace a Lorenz-like chaotic attractor in its real space trajectory. Despite the flow being strictly time independent, coupling between particle position and orientation creates a three-dimensional nonlinear dynamical system. For suitable particle shape and swimming speed, the trajectory organizes into a striking two-lobed geometry reminiscent of the classical Lorenz attractor. A structured first return map, positive largest Lyapunov exponent, and a broadband power spectrum establish that the underlying motion is chaotic. Varying the swimming speed reveals a rich sequence of dynamical regimes as self-propulsion breaks streamline confinement and reorganizes the particle motion. Our results demonstrate how an internal orientational degree of freedom can make chaotic dynamics directly visible in physical space, allowing a single active particle to trace a chaotic attractor as it moves through an otherwise steady flow.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.32640",
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Rahil N. Valani"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ekashman Tiwari"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aritra Roy"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aaembq3f0p5fk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.32640",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "aaembq3f0p5fk",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.32640",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "nlin.CD"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.flu-dyn"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3104|Micro and Nano Robotics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223681057",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.32640",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aaembq3f0p5fk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
      "native_id": "2610.32640",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.32640"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.flu-dyn",
      "subfield": "fluid-dynamics"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:nlin.CD",
      "subfield": "statistical-nonlinear"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Chaos Made Visible: Active particles trace Lorenz-like attractors in physical space",
  "title_text": "Chaos Made Visible: Active particles trace Lorenz-like attractors in physical space",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aaembq3f0p5fk",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}