Abstract
We combine computer simulations and analytical theory to investigate the glassy dynamics in dense assemblies of athermal particles evolving under the sole influence of self-propulsion. Our simulations reveal that when the persistence time of the self-propulsion is increased, the local structure becomes more pronounced, whereas the long-time dynamics first accelerates and then slows down. We explain these surprising findings by constructing a nonequilibrium microscopic theory that yields nontrivial predictions for the glassy dynamics. These predictions are in qualitative agreement with the simulations and reveal the importance of steady-state correlations of the local velocities to the nonequilibrium dynamics of dense self-propelled particles.
- Received 26 December 2014
- Revised 8 April 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.91.062304
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