Minimal model for active nematics: quasi-long-range order and giant fluctuations
Statistical Mechanics
2009-11-11 v1 Soft Condensed Matter
Abstract
We propose a minimal microscopic model for active nematic particles similar in spirit to the Vicsek model for self-propelled polar particles. In two dimensions, we show that this model exhibits a Kosterlitz-Thouless-like transition to quasi-long-range orientational order and that in this non-equilibrium context, the ordered phase is characterized by giant density fluctuations, in agreement with the predictions of Ramaswamy {\it et al.} [Europhys. Lett. {\bf 62}, 196 (2003)].
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0603080,
title = {Minimal model for active nematics: quasi-long-range order and giant fluctuations},
author = {Hugues Chate and Francesco Ginelli and Raul Montagne},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0603080},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. 4 pages, 4 figures