Minimal model of active colloids highlights the role of mechanical interactions in controlling the emergent behavior of active matter

TL;DR

This paper reviews minimal models of active colloids, emphasizing how mechanical interactions influence the emergence of various phases and behaviors in active matter systems.

Contribution

It highlights recent progress in understanding active Brownian particles, focusing on mechanical interactions and phase behaviors in minimal active matter models.

Findings

Active gases and swim pressure characterized

Motility-induced phase separation explained

High-density crystalline and glassy states observed

Abstract

Minimal models of active Brownian colloids consisting of self-propelled spherical particles with purely repulsive interactions have recently been identified as excellent quantitative testing grounds for theories of active matter and have been the subject of extensive numerical and analytical investigation. These systems do not exhibit aligned or flocking states, but do have a rich phase diagram, forming active gases, liquids and solids with novel mechanical properties. This article reviews recent advances in the understanding of such models, including the description of the active gas and its swim pressure, the motility-induced phase separation and the high-density crystalline and glassy behavior.