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Kinetics of vapor-liquid transition of active matter system in confined geometry
Parameshwaran A1, Bhaskar Sen Gupta1
1Vellore Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India.
Abstract:
We study the kinetics of vapor-liquid phase separation in a quasi-one-dimensional confined active matter system using molecular dynamics simulations. Activity is invoked via the Vicsek rule, while passive interaction follows the Lennard-Jones potential. With the system density near the vapor branch, the evolution morphology features disconnected liquid clusters. In the passive limit, coarsening begins with nucleation, followed by an evaporation-condensation growth mechanism, leading to a metastable state without complete phase separation. We aim to understand the impact of Vicsek-like self-propulsion on the structure and growth of these clusters. Our key finding is that Vicsek activity results in a distinct growth mechanism, notably rapid cluster growth and the breakdown of the metastable state through ballistic aggregation. Relevant growth laws are analyzed and explained using appropriate theoretical models.
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