Stochastic thermodynamics for self-propelled particles

Abstract

We propose a generalization of stochastic thermodynamics to systems of active particles, which move under the combined influence of stochastic internal self-propulsions (activity) and a heat bath. The main idea is to consider joint trajectories of particles' positions and self-propulsions. It is then possible to exploit formal similarity of an active system and a system consisting of two subsystems interacting with different heat reservoirs and coupled by a nonsymmetric interaction. The resulting thermodynamic description closely follows the standard stochastic thermodynamics. In particular, total entropy production, Δs_{tot}, can be decomposed into housekeeping, Δs_{hk}, and excess, Δs_{ex}, parts. Both Δs_{tot} and Δs_{hk} satisfy fluctuation theorems. The average rate of the steady-state housekeeping entropy production can be related to the violation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem via a Harada-Sasa relation. The excess entropy production enters into a Hatano-Sasa-like relation, which leads to a generalized Clausius inequality involving the change of the system's entropy and the excess entropy production. Interestingly, although the evolution of particles' self-propulsions is free and uncoupled from that of their positions, nontrivial steady-state correlations between these variables lead to the nonzero excess dissipation in the reservoir coupled to the self-propulsions.