How active forces influence nonequilibrium glass transitions
Abstract
Dense assemblies of self-propelled particles undergo a nonequilibrium form of glassy dynamics. Physical intuition suggests that increasing departure from equilibrium due to active forces fluidifies a glassy system. We falsify this belief by devising a model of self-propelled particles where increasing departure from equilibrium can both enhance or depress glassy dynamics, depending on the chosen state point. We analyze a number of static and dynamic observables and suggest that the location of the nonequilibrium glass transition is primarily controlled by the evolution of two-point static density correlations due to active forces. The dependence of the density correlations on the active forces varies non-trivially with the details of the system, and is difficult to predict theoretically. Our results emphasize the need to develop an accurate liquid state theory for nonequilibrium systems.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1708.04259,
title = {How active forces influence nonequilibrium glass transitions},
author = {Ludovic Berthier and Elijah Flenner and Grzegorz Szamel},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1708.04259},
year = {2017}
}