Abstract
Active Brownian particles (ABPs), when subject to purely repulsive interactions, are known to undergo activity-induced phase separation broadly resembling an equilibrium (attraction-induced) gas-liquid coexistence. Here we present an accurate continuum theory for the dynamics of phase-separating ABPs, derived by direct coarse-graining, capturing leading-order density gradient terms alongside an effective bulk free energy. Such gradient terms do not obey detailed balance; yet we find coarsening dynamics closely resembling that of equilibrium phase separation. Our continuum theory is numerically compared to large-scale direct simulations of ABPs and accurately accounts for domain growth kinetics, domain topologies and coexistence densities.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 145702 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 111 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Physical Chemistry (including Surface- and Colloid Chemistry)
Free keywords
- Active Matter
- Phase Separation Kinetics