Universality for Moving Stripes: A Hydrodynamic Theory of Polar Active Smectics

Leiming Chen (陈雷鸣) and John Toner
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 088701 – Published 19 August 2013

Abstract

We present a theory of moving stripes (“polar active smectics”), both with and without number conservation. The latter is described by a compact anisotropic Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation, which implies smectic order is quasilong ranged in d=2 and long ranged in d=3. In d=2 the smectic disorders via a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, which can be driven by either increasing the noise or varying certain nonlinearities. For the number-conserving case, giant number fluctuations are greatly suppressed by the smectic order, which is long ranged in d=3. Nonlinear effects become important in d=2.

  • Figure
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  • Received 28 January 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.088701

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Leiming Chen (陈雷鸣)

  • College of Science, The China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou Jiangsu 221116, People’s Republic of China

John Toner

  • Department of Physics and Institute of Theoretical Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA

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Issue

Vol. 111, Iss. 8 — 23 August 2013

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