Conservation laws and slow dynamics determine the universality class of interfaces in active matter

TL;DR

This paper introduces a driven hard-disk model that exhibits non-equilibrium interface scaling, revealing multiple universality classes influenced by conservation laws and slow dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the first observation of $|oldsymbol q|$KPZ and wet-$|oldsymbol q|$KPZ universality classes in a non-equilibrium system, and identifies a new universality class linked to slow dynamics.

Findings

Observation of $|oldsymbol q|$KPZ universality class.

Identification of wet-$|oldsymbol q|$KPZ universality class.

Discovery of a new universality class associated with slow dynamics.

Abstract

While equilibrium interfaces display universal large-scale statistics, interfaces in phase-separated active and driven systems are predicted to belong to distinct non-equilibrium universality classes. Yet, such behavior has proven difficult to observe, with most systems exhibiting equilibrium-like fluctuations despite their strongly non-equilibrium microscopic dynamics. We introduce a hard-disk model driven by active collisions, conceived as an effective 2D description of a vibrofluidized granular system that, contrary to self-propelled models, displays clear non-equilibrium interfacial scaling. We observe for the first time, the $|\boldsymbol q|$KPZ and wet-$|\boldsymbol q|$KPZ universality classes while revealing a new, previously overlooked universality class arising in systems with slow solid-like or glassy dynamics. Conservation laws and slow dynamics select these distinct classes.