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Updated: Nov 15, 2025
08:37
Forming, Confining, and Observing Microtubule-Based Active Nematics
Published on: January 13, 2023
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Emergence of dynamic vortex glasses in disordered polar active fluids
Amélie Chardac1, Suraj Shankar2, M Cristina Marchetti3
1Université de Lyon, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique, F-69342 Lyon, France.
Summary
Researchers discovered a new state of disordered active matter called a dynamical vortex glass. This state, observed in colloidal flocks, exhibits unique stationary flow patterns despite constant motion in disordered environments.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Active matter physics
- Non-equilibrium systems
Background:
- Disorder influences equilibrium states in various materials like crystals and superconductors.
- The impact of quenched disorder on active condensed matter far from equilibrium is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of quenched disorder on active condensed matter.
- To identify novel states of matter in disordered active systems beyond equilibrium conditions.
Main Methods:
- Microfluidic experiments with colloidal flocks.
- Theoretical modeling of active matter dynamics.
- Analysis of topological defects and flow patterns.
Main Results:
- A new state, the dynamical vortex glass, was identified in strongly disordered active matter.
- Colloidal flocks maintain topological singularities while moving through disorder.
- Flow patterns are stationary with exponentially degenerated states, driven by frozen vortices.
Conclusions:
- Quenched isotropic disorder acts as a random gauge field, creating dynamical vortex glasses from active liquids.
- This mechanism is proposed to be general for disordered active matter, including synthetic active nematics and biological cells.
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