Abstract
We analyze the collective dynamics of self-propelled particles in the large-density regime where passive particles undergo a kinetic arrest to an amorphous glassy state. We capture the competition between self-propulsion and crowding effects using a two-dimensional model of self-propelled hard disks, which we study using MonteCarlo simulations. Although the activity drives the system far from equilibrium, self-propelled particles undergo a kinetic arrest, which we characterize in detail and compare with its equilibrium counterpart. In particular, the critical density for dynamic arrest continuously shifts to larger densities with increasing activity, and the relaxation time is surprisingly well described by an algebraic divergence resulting from the emergence of highly collective dynamics. These results show that dense assemblies of active particles undergo a nonequilibrium glass transition that is profoundly affected by self-propulsion mechanisms.
Highlights
We analyse the collective dynamics of self-propelled particles in the large density regime where passive particles undergo a kinetic arrest to an amorphous glassy state
The equilibrium physics of dense particle systems is usually understood in the framework of statistical mechanics because it stems from the competition between particle interactions and thermal fluctuations [1]
It was recently suggested that active particles, despite being far from equilibrium, could display kinetic arrest with qualitative analogies, and strong differences, with the equilibrium glass transition [11]
Summary
We analyse the collective dynamics of self-propelled particles in the large density regime where passive particles undergo a kinetic arrest to an amorphous glassy state. We seek a minimal model to study the impact of self-propulsion on the dynamics of dense assemblies of self-propelled particles, allowing us to interpolate smoothly between the well-known (but already complex) equilibrium glassy dynamics, and the driven active case. Clear differences with the equilibrium situation already emerge for moderate densities and short-times, where active particles move ballistically as a direct result of self-propulsion.
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