arXiv subjects

Byjesh N. Radhakrishnan

Publications and source records attributed to Byjesh N. Radhakrishnan.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Superfluidity in active quantum flocks

Active quantum matter has very recently emerged at the intersection between bio- and quantum many-body physics, combining the self-organization of living systems with the coherence of the quantum world. Active quantum systems have been shown to exhibit flocking - a collective phenomenon with no precedent in equilibrium quantum physics. In this work we uncover an unexpected layer of quantum order in active quantum flocks: they can become superfluid. We show that, in addition to the symmetry breaking associated with their directed motion, these flocks can also break an additional U(1) symmetry, giving rise to off-diagonal long-range order. For a microscopic model of active hard-core bosons governed by Lindblad dynamics, we derive an effective long-wavelength description of the single-particle density matrix and demonstrate that the flocking phase develops an instability toward off-diagonal long-range order characteristic of superfluid behavior. Our findings reveal active quantum matter as a promising research direction for discovering exotic nonequilibrium phases of quantum matter.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2026

Irreversibility in scalar active turbulence: The role of topological defects

In many active systems, swimmers collectively stir the surrounding fluid to stabilize some self-sustained vortices. The resulting nonequilibrium state is often referred to as active turbulence, by analogy with the turbulence of passive fluids under external stirring. Although active turbulence clearly operates far from equilibrium, it can be challenging to pinpoint which emergent features primarily control the deviation from an equilibrium reversible dynamics. Here, we reveal that dynamical irreversibility essentially stems from singularities in the active stress. Specifically, considering the coupled dynamics of the swimmer density and the stream function, we demonstrate that the symmetries of vortical flows around defects determine the overall irreversibility. Our detailed analysis leads to identifying specific configurations of defect pairs as the dominant contribution to irreversibility.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2023

Hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equations in two-dimensional systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling

We study a two-dimensional (2D) electron system with a linear spectrum in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit (RSO) coupling in the hydrodynamic regime. We derive a semiclassical Boltzmann equation with a collision integral due to Coulomb interactions in the basis of the eigenstates of the system with RSO coupling. Using the local equilibrium distribution functions, we obtain a generalized hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equation for electronic systems with RSO coupling. In particular, we discuss the influence of the spin-orbit coupling on the viscosity and the enthalpy of the system and present some of its observable effects in hydrodynamic transport.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Confinement induced three-dimensional trajectories of microswimmers in rectangular channels

We study the trajectories of a model microorganism inside three-dimensional channels with square and rectangular cross-sections. Using (i) numerical simulations based on lattice-Boltzmann method, and (ii) analytical expressions using far-field hydrodynamic approximations and method of images we systematically investigate the role of the strength and finite-size of the squirmer, confinement dimensions, and initial conditions in determining the three dimensional trajectories of microswimmers. Our results indicate that the hydrodynamic interactions with the confining walls of the channel significantly affect the swimming speed and trajectory of the model microswimmer. Specifically, pullers always display sliding motion inside the channel: weak pullers slide through the channel centerline, while strong pullers slide through a path close to any of the walls. Pushers generally follow helical motion in a square channel. Unlike pullers and pushers, the trajectories of neutral swimmers are not easy to generalize, and are sensitive to the initial conditions. Despite this diversity in the trajectories, the far-field expressions capture the essential features of channel-confined swimmers. Finally, we propose a method based on the principle of superposition to understand the origin of the three-dimensional trajectories of channel confined swimmers. Such construction allows us to predict and justify the origin of apparently complex 3D trajectories generated by different types of swimmers in channels with square and rectangular cross sections.

cond-mat.soft↗