Long-ranged velocity correlations in dense systems of self-propelled particles

TL;DR

This paper reviews and demonstrates that dense systems of self-propelled particles exhibit long-range velocity correlations, influenced by self-propulsion and interparticle interactions, challenging equilibrium-based intuition.

Contribution

It shows that long-range velocity correlations are present in both solid-like and fluid-like dense active matter systems, linking correlation range to propulsion and bulk modulus.

Findings

Velocity correlations extend over many particle diameters.

Correlation range depends on self-propulsion and bulk modulus.

Long-range correlations are present in dense fluid-like systems.

Abstract

Model systems of self-propelled particles reproduce many phenomena observed in laboratory active matter systems that defy our thermal equilibrium-based intuition. In particular, in stationary states of self-propelled systems, it is recognized that velocities of different particles exhibit non-trivial equal-time correlations. Such correlations are absent in equivalent equilibrium systems. Recently, researchers found that the range of the velocity correlations increases with increasing persistence time of the self-propulsion and can extend over many particle diameters. Here we review the initial studies of long-ranged velocity correlations in solid-like systems of self-propelled particles. Then, we demonstrate that the long-ranged velocity correlations are also present in dense fluid-like systems. We show that the range of velocity correlations in dense systems of self-propelled particles is determined by the combination of the self-propulsion and the virial bulk modulus that originates from repulsive interparticle interactions.