Work

Work to insert a particle into an active fluid

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The chemical potential is defined as the work to quasi-statically add a particle to an equilibrium system. Inspired by this definition, we investigate how the work to add a particle to an active fluid depends on the activity, density, and insertion protocol. We find that the average work is protocol dependent and decreases with activity. Moreover, the work fluctuations retain asymmetric non-Gaussian tails even for slow particle insertions. We then compare the average particle-insertion work to the steady-state densities observed when two active fluids are brought into diffusive contact and observe opposing trends between density and work.

Source: Europhysics Letters (EPL)

DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/ae46d7

Authors: Freddy A. Cisneros, Alexandre Solon, Jordan M. Horowitz

Institutions: University of Michigan, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $1,895