Self-propelled particle in a nonconvex external potential: Persistent limit in one dimension

Area of Science:

• Statistical Mechanics
• Soft Matter Physics
• Active Matter Systems

Background:

• Existing equilibrium mapping techniques accurately predict active ideal gas density profiles for nonaligning self-propelled particles in various potentials.
• These methods fail for highly persistent self-propulsion and nonconvex potentials, precisely where unique active matter phenomena emerge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a predictive framework for the density profile of 1D active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particles in arbitrary external potentials, particularly in the persistent limit.
• To analyze the impact of potential nonconvexity on the solution structure and understand emergent phenomena in active matter.

Main Methods:

• Development of novel equilibrium mapping techniques tailored for persistent self-propulsion.
• Analysis of the active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particle model in one dimension.
• Investigation of the role of potential's inflection points and nonlocal dependencies.

Main Results:

• Successfully predicted the density profile for 1D active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particles in the persistent limit across diverse potentials.
• Identified the critical role of potential's inflection points in shaping the density profile.
• Revealed a nonlocal dependence of the density profile on the external potential.

Conclusions:

• The developed method extends predictive capabilities for active matter systems beyond traditional limitations.
• Understanding the influence of potential nonconvexity and particle persistence is crucial for characterizing complex active matter behavior.
• This work provides a foundation for studying emergent phenomena in non-equilibrium systems.