我目前的工作主要集中在活性粒子。另外我对于系统生物学，非线性动力系统，以及用机器学习方法研究复杂系统均有兴趣。
活性粒子（Active particles）是一类可以驱动自身运动的粒子。这个概念可以用于描述诸如细菌、哺乳动物细胞、鸟群、鱼群甚至人群的宏观运动。活性粒子系统在自然界中非常普遍。一群活性粒子构成的系统是一个典型的远离平衡态系统。每个粒子消耗能源（比如ATP）来产生驱动力，并且粒子与周围流体或基质的摩擦会不断耗散能量。通常因为溶剂分子的热涨落，或者粒子内马达的内禀动力学，粒子的取向无法长时间维持。因此粒子的能量与动量从微观上均已不守恒。
这就是为什么相较于静态的粒子，活性粒子可以表现出一系列复杂的行为。一群可以对齐的粒子可以形成团簇产生集体运动；有手性的活性粒子可以形成旋转的涡旋。即使是最简单的活性粒子，在力相互作用下也可以形成类似气液的相分离，甚至产生斑图。因为它们的远平衡态特质，活性粒子的世界非常的广阔。
目前正在开展的工作有：
（1）活性粒子系统中的表面张力与界面性质
（2）细菌在复杂环境中的运动与Fisher波
（3）使用机器学习方法寻找活性粒子系统的宏观运动学方程
已发表论文
*具有相同贡献的作者
#通讯作者
[15] Yu’an Li, Yongfeng Zhao, Siyuan Yang, Min Tang#, and Hepeng Zhang#, Biased Lévy walk enables light gradient sensing in Euglena gracilis, Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 108301 (2025).
[14] Zihui Zhao, He Li, Yisong Yao, Yongfeng Zhao, Francesca Serra, Kyogo Kawaguchi, Hepeng Zhang, Masaki Sano#, Integer topological defects offer a methodology to quantify and classify active cell monolayers, Nature Communications 16, 2452 (2025).
[13] Yisong Yao, Zihui Zhao, He Li, Yongfeng Zhao, Hepeng Zhang, Masaki Sano#, Active Nematics Reinforce the Ratchet Flow in Dense Environments Without Jamming, Adv. Sci. 2025, 2412750 (2025).
[12] Yongfeng Zhao, Active particles in a tube: A generalized entropy potential approach, Phys. Rev. Research 7, 013015 (2025).
[11] Zihui Zhao*, Yisong Yao*, He Li, Yongfeng Zhao, Yujia Wang, Hepeng Zhang, Hugues Chaté, Masaki Sano#, Integer Topological Defects Reveal Effective Forces in Active Nematics, Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 268301 (2024).
[10] Yongfeng Zhao#, Ruben Zakine, Adrian Daerr, Yariv Kafri, Julien Tailleur, Frédéric van Wijland, Active Young-Dupré Equation: How Self-organized Currents Stabilize Partial Wetting, [arXiv] (2024).
[9] Christina Kurzthaler*,#, Yongfeng Zhao*,#, Nan Zhou, Jana Schwarz-Linek, Clemence Devailly, Jochen Arlt, Jian-Dong Huang, Wilson C. K. Poon, Thomas Franosch, Julien Tailleur#, Vincent A. Martinez#, Characterization and Control of the Run-and-Tumble Dynamics of Escherichia Coli, Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 038302 (2024).[arXiv]
[8] Yongfeng Zhao*,#, Christina Kurzthaler*,#, Nan Zhou, Jana Schwarz-Linek, Clemence Devailly, Jochen Arlt, Jian-Dong Huang, Wilson C. K. Poon, Thomas Franosch, Vincent A. Martinez, Julien Tailleur#, Quantitative characterization of run-and-tumble statistics in bulk bacterial suspensions, Phys. Rev. E 109, 014612 (2024). [arXiv]
[7] Alberto Dinelli, Jérémy O'Byrne, Agnese Curatolo, Yongfeng Zhao, Peter Sollich, Julien Tailleur, Non-reciprocity across scales in active mixtures, Nature Communications 14, 7035 (2023). [arXiv]
[6] Zeng Tao Liu, Yan Shi, Yongfeng Zhao, Hugues Chaté#, Xia-qing Shi#, Tian Hui Zhang#, Subcritical active matter: Activity waves and freestanding vortices, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (2021).
[5] Siyuan Yang, Mingji Huang, Yongfeng Zhao, Hepeng Zhang#, Controlling cell motion and microscale flow with polarized light fields, Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 058001 (2021). [arXiv]
[4] Ruben Zakine*, Yongfeng Zhao*, Miloš Knežević, Adrian Daerr, Yariv Kafri, Julien Tailleur, Frédéric van Wijland, Surface Tensions between Active Fluids and Solid Interfaces: bare vs dressed, Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 248003 (2020). [arXiv]
[3] Agnese I. Curatolo*, Nan Zhou*, Yongfeng Zhao*, Chenli Liu, Adrian Daerr, Julien Tailleur#, Jian-Dong Huang#, Cooperative pattern formation in multi-component bacterial systems through reciprocal motility regulation, Nat. Phys. 16, 1152–1157 (2020). [biorXiv]
[2] Eric Woillez, Yongfeng Zhao, Yariv Kafri, Vivien Lecomte, Julien Tailleur, “Activated escape of a self-propelled particle from a metastable state”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 258001 (2019). [arXiv]
[1] Thibault Bertrand#, Yongfeng Zhao, Olivier Bénichou, Julien Tailleur, Raphaël Voituriez#, “Optimized Diffusion of Run-and-Tumble Particles in Crowded Environments”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 198103 (2018). [arXiv]