Stochastic thermodynamics for self-propelled particles

Abstract

We propose a generalization of stochastic thermodynamics to systems of active particles, which move under the combined influence of stochastic internal self-propulsions (activity) and a heat bath. The main idea is to consider joint trajectories of particles' positions and self-propulsions. It is then possible to exploit formal similarity of an active system and a system consisting of two subsystems interacting with different heat reservoirs and coupled by a non-symmetric interaction. The resulting thermodynamic description closely follows the standard stochastic thermodynamics. In particular, total entropy production, $\Delta s_\text{tot}$, can be decomposed into housekeeping, $\Delta s_\text{hk}$, and excess, $\Delta s_\text{ex}$, parts. Both $\Delta s_\text{tot}$ and $\Delta s_\text{hk}$ satisfy fluctuation theorems. The average rate of the steady-state housekeeping entropy production can be related to the violation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem via a Harada-Sasa relation. The excess entropy production enters into a Hatano-Sasa-like relation, which leads to a generalized Clausius inequality involving the change of the system's entropy and the excess entropy production. Interestingly, although the evolution of particles' self-propulsions is free and uncoupled from that of their positions, non-trivial steady-state correlations between these variables lead to the non-zero excess dissipation in the reservoir coupled to the self-propulsions.