Thermodynamic Geometric Control of Active Matter

TL;DR

This paper develops a geometric framework for thermodynamic control of active matter, enabling energy-efficient manipulation of non-equilibrium systems by balancing intrinsic and external dissipation.

Contribution

It extends thermodynamic geometry to active matter, providing a systematic method to minimize energy costs in non-equilibrium control processes.

Findings

Optimal control protocols derived using geometric tools.

Trade-off identified between intrinsic and external dissipation.

Application demonstrated on an active monothermal engine.

Abstract

Active matter represents a class of non-equilibrium systems that constantly dissipate energy to produce directed motion. The thermodynamic control of active matter holds great potential for advancements in synthetic molecular motors, targeted drug delivery, and adaptive smart materials. However, the inherently non-equilibrium nature of active matter poses a significant challenge in achieving optimal control with minimal energy cost. In this work, we extend the concept of thermodynamic geometry, traditionally applied to passive systems, to active matter, proposing a systematic geometric framework for minimizing energy cost in non-equilibrium driving processes. We derive a cost metric that defines a Riemannian manifold for control parameters, enabling the use of powerful geometric tools to determine optimal control protocols. The geometric perspective reveals that, unlike in passive systems, minimizing energy cost in active systems involves a trade-off between intrinsic and external dissipation, leading to an optimal transportation speed that coincides with the self-propulsion speed of active matter. This insight enriches the broader concept of thermodynamic geometry. We demonstrate the application of this approach by optimizing the performance of an active monothermal engine within this geometric framework.