Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We study the simplest terms that need to be included in active field theories to couple them to external potentials. To do so, we consider active Brownian particles and implement a systematic perturbative expansion in the particle persistence time. The result is a non-trivial coupling between density and potential gradients, which accounts for the nonequilibrium features of active particles in the presence of an external potential, from boundary accumulation to far-field density modulation. We show how the method can be applied to particles interacting via pairwise forces and to spatial modulations of the propulsion speed.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Kafri, Yariv, Tailleur, Julien
Topic: Micro and Nano Robotics
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G236627506, G7436054389
OpenAlex ID: W7140315543
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