Dynamical Sub-classes of Dry Active Nematics

TL;DR

This paper identifies two distinct dynamical sub-classes of dry active nematics based on the dominant alignment mode, revealing different instability mechanisms of nematic bands and elucidating their origins through hydrodynamic modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of dry active nematics into two sub-classes based on instability types, with a detailed hydrodynamic analysis of the stronger band breakup instability.

Findings

Two dynamical sub-classes of dry active nematics identified

Different instability mechanisms for nematic bands characterized

Hydrodynamic model explains origin of band breakup instability

Abstract

We show that the dominant mode of alignment plays an important role in dry active nematics,leading to two dynamical sub-classes defined by the nature of the instability of the nematic bands that characterize, in these systems, the coexistence phase separating the isotropic and fluctuating nematic states. In addition to the well-known instability inducing long undulations along the band, another stronger instability leading to the break-up of the band in many transversal segments may arise. We elucidate the origin of this strong instability for a realistic model of self-propelled rods and determine the high-order nonlinear terms responsible for it at the hydrodynamic level.