Abstract
The coupling of active, self-motile particles to topological constraints can give rise to novel non-equilibrium dynamical patterns that lack any passive counterpart. Here we study the behavior of self-propelled rods confined to a compact spherical manifold by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. We establish the state diagram and find that short active rods at sufficiently high density exhibit a glass transition toward a disordered state characterized by persistent self-spinning motion. By periodically melting and revitrifying the spherical spinning glass, we observe clear signatures of time-dependent aging and rejuvenation physics. We quantify the crucial role of activity in these non-equilibrium processes, and rationalize the aging dynamics in terms of an absorbing-state transition toward a more stable active glassy state. Our results demonstrate both how concepts of passive glass phenomenology can carry over into the realm of active matter, and how topology can enrich the collective spatiotemporal dynamics in inherently non-equilibrium systems.
Highlights
Active systems are composed of particles that can convert chemical, magnetic, or radiation energy into autonomous motion, rendering them intrinsically far from equilibrium[1,2,3,4]
Our results exemplify both the novel spatiotemporal dynamics that may emerge from coupling activity to topology, and the surprising analogies between active matter that is intrinsically out-of-equilibrium, and passive glassy matter that is collectively out-of-equilibrium
Our system is based on a suitable minimal model system for bacterial microswimmers in Euclidean space[8, 57], which is illustrated in Fig. 1(a) and discussed in detail in the Methods section
Summary
Active systems are composed of particles that can convert chemical, magnetic, or radiation energy into autonomous motion, rendering them intrinsically far from equilibrium[1,2,3,4]. Recent experimental work has focused on active nematic microtubuli confined to a deformable droplet interface[39], and subsequent theoretical[40,41,42] and simulation[43,44,45,46] studies have explored the dynamics of nematic and polar active particles under a spherical or ellipsoidal constraint. These developments point toward a rich array of topological-defect patterns and curvature-driven dynamics in the presence of strong aligning interactions between the particles. Our findings might be tested in experiments on e.g. dense suspensions of bacterial or synthetic active particles confined to a spherical droplet or hydrogel interface
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
