Unifying polar and nematic active matter: emergence and co-existence of half-integer and full-integer topological defects

Abstract The presence and significance of active topological defects is increasingly realised in diverse biological biomimetic systems. We introduce a continuum model polar matter, based on conservation laws symmetry arguments, that recapitulates both apolar (nematic) features turbulence. Using numerical simulations the model, we demonstrate emergence half- full-integer matter. Interestingly, find crossover from turbulence with half-to can emerge coexistence region characterized by defect types. These results put forward minimal, generic framework for studying patterns matter which capable explaining half-integer systems such as bacteria cell monolayers, well predicting coexisting states