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Hyperuniformity in active fluids reshapes nucleation and capillary-wave dynamics
1University of Barcelona, Department of Condensed Matter, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Physical Review. E
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Nucleation in hyperuniform fluids deviates from equilibrium predictions due to suppressed fluctuations. This study reveals a nonequilibrium quasipotential governs nucleation, altering probability contributions and detailed balance in driven systems.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Soft Matter Physics
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Nucleation in active and driven fluids typically resembles equilibrium processes.
- Significant deviations arise when large-scale fluctuations are suppressed, as in hyperuniform fluids.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate nucleation phenomena in nonequilibrium hyperuniform fluids.
- Analyze the governing dynamics by projecting density-field evolution onto collective variables.
Main Methods:
- Projection of full density-field dynamics onto collective variables.
- Analysis of nucleation governed by a nonequilibrium quasipotential.
- Incorporation of capillary wave effects to study detailed balance.
Main Results:
- Nucleation is governed by a nonequilibrium quasipotential, not reversible work.
- Reduced fluctuations in hyperuniform fluids decouple surface and volume contributions to nucleation probability.
- Nonreciprocal dynamics and capillary waves lead to a breakdown of detailed balance.
Conclusions:
- The study introduces a framework for understanding nucleation in hyperuniform systems.
- Identifies a nonequilibrium quasipotential as the key governing factor.
- Provides a method extendable to identifying nonequilibrium signatures in active fluids.
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