Intermittent relaxation and avalanches in extremely persistent active matter

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2212.09836
• Publication Date: 2022-01-01
• Authors: Yann-Edwin Keta; Rituparno Mandal; Peter Sollich; Robert L. Jack; Ludovic Berthier
• Keywords: Active matter; Thermodynamic limit; Persistence (discontinuity); Length scale

We use numerical simulations to study the dynamics of dense assemblies self-propelled particles in limit extremely large, but finite, persistence times. In this limit, system evolves intermittently between mechanical equilibria where active forces balance interparticle interactions. develop an efficient strategy allowing us resolve statistical properties elastic and plastic relaxation events caused by activity-driven fluctuations. The relaxes via a succession scale-free broadly distributed that both depend on size. Correlations lead emergent dynamic facilitation heterogeneous dynamics. Our results show dynamical behaviour persistent systems is qualitatively similar sheared amorphous solids, yet with some important differences.