English

Scaling laws for passive polymer dynamics in active turbulence

Soft Condensed Matter 2025-03-27 v1

Abstract

Biological systems commonly combine intrinsically out-of-equilibrium active components with passive polymeric inclusions to produce unique material properties. To explore these composite systems, idealized models - such as polymers in active fluids - are essential to develop a predictive theoretical framework. We simulate a single, freely jointed passive chain in two-dimensional active turbulence. Active flows advect the polymer, producing a substantially enhanced diffusivity. Our results reveal that the dimensionless diffusivity obeys scaling laws governed by the P\'eclet, Weissenberg, and Ericksen numbers, which paves the way for designing active/polymeric hybrid materials with predictable properties that differ significantly from those of nondeformable inclusions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2503.19985,
  title  = {Scaling laws for passive polymer dynamics in active turbulence},
  author = {Zahra K. Valei and Tyler N. Shendruk},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2503.19985},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

12 pages; 8 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-28T22:34:19.625Z