arXiv subjects

Frédéric van Wijland

Publications and source records attributed to Frédéric van Wijland.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Irreversible Boltzmann samplers in dense liquids: weak-coupling approximation and mode-coupling theory

Exerting a nonequilibrium drive on an otherwise equilibrium Langevin process brings the dynamics out of equilibrium but can also speedup the approach to the Boltzmann steady-state. Transverse forces are a minimal framework to achieve dynamical acceleration of the Boltzmann sampling. We consider a simple liquid in three space dimensions subjected to additional transverse pairwise forces, and quantify the extent to which transverse forces accelerate the dynamics. We first explore the dynamics of a tracer in a weak coupling regime describing high temperatures. The resulting acceleration is correlated with a monotonous increase of the magnitude of odd transport coefficients (mobility and diffusivity) with the amplitude of the transverse drive. We then develop a nonequilibrium version of the mode-coupling theory able to capture the effect of transverse forces, and more generally of forces created by additional degrees of freedom. Based on an analysis of transport coefficients, both odd and longitudinal, both for the collective modes and for a tracer particle, we find a systematic acceleration of the dynamics. Quantitatively, the gain, which is guaranteed throughout the ergodic phase, turns out to be a decreasing function of temperature beyond a temperature crossover, in particular as the glass transition is approached. Our theoretical results are in good agreement with available numerical results.

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arXiv2023

Sampling efficiency of transverse forces in dense liquids

Sampling the Boltzmann distribution using forces that violate detailed balance can be faster than with the equilibrium evolution, but the acceleration depends on the nature of the nonequilibrium drive and the physical situation. Here, we study the efficiency of forces transverse to energy gradients in dense liquids through a combination of techniques: Brownian dynamics simulations, exact infinite-dimensional calculation and a mode-coupling approximation. We find that the sampling speedup varies non-monotonically with temperature, and decreases as the system becomes more glassy. We characterize the interplay between the distance to equilibrium and the efficiency of transverse forces by means of odd transport coefficients.

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arXiv2023

A run-and-tumble particle around a spherical obstacle: steady-state distribution far-from-equilibrium

We study the steady-state distribution function of a run-and-tumble particle evolving around a repulsive hard spherical obstacle. We show that the well-documented activity-induced attraction translates into a delta peak accumulation at the surface of the obstacle accompanied with an algebraic divergence of the density profile close to the obstacle. We obtain the full form of the distribution function in the regime where the typical distance run by the particle between two consecutive tumbles is much larger than the size of the obstacle. This provides an expression for the low-density pair distribution function of a fluid of highly persistent hard-core run-and-tumble particles. This also provides an expression for the steady-state probability distribution of highly-ballistic active Brownian particles and active Ornstein-Ulhenbeck particles around hard spherical obstacles.

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arXiv2023

Diagrammatics for the Inverse Problem in Spin Systems and Simple Liquids

Modeling complex systems, like neural networks, simple liquids or flocks of birds, often works in reverse to textbook approaches: given data for which averages and correlations are known, we try to find the parameters of a given model consistent with it. In general, no exact calculation directly from the model is available and we are left with expensive numerical approaches. A particular situation is that of a perturbed Gaussian model with polynomial corrections for continuous degrees of freedom. Indeed perturbation expansions for this case have been implemented in the last 60 years. However, there are models for which the exactly solvable part is non-Gaussian, such as independent Ising spins in a field, or an ideal gas of particles. We implement a diagrammatic perturbative scheme in weak correlations around a non-Gaussian yet solvable probability weight. This applies in particular to spin models (Ising, Potts, Heisenberg) with weak couplings, or to a simple liquid with a weak interaction potential. Our method casts systems with discrete degrees of freedom and those with continuous ones within the same theoretical framework. When the core theory is Gaussian it reduces to the well-known Feynman diagrammatics.

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arXiv2023

Path integrals and stochastic calculus

Path integrals are a ubiquitous tool in theoretical physics. However, their use is sometimes hindered by the lack of control on various manipulations -- such as performing a change of the integration path -- one would like to carry out in the light-hearted fashion that physicists enjoy. Similar issues arise in the field of stochastic calculus, which we review to prepare the ground for a proper construction of path integrals. At the level of path integration, and in arbitrary space dimension, we not only report on existing Riemannian geometry-based approaches that render path integrals amenable to the standard rules of calculus, but also bring forth new routes, based on a fully time-discretized approach, that achieve the same goal. We illustrate these various definitions of path integration on simple examples such as the diffusion of a particle on a sphere.

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arXiv2023

Nonlinear analog of the complexity-stability transition in random dynamical systems: a replica calculation

We consider large-dimensional dynamical systems involving a linear force and a random force comprising both potential and non-conservative contributions. Such systems are known to exhibit a topological trivialization phase transition as the strength of the random force is increased. This is reflected in the number of stationary points of the dynamical systems that transitions from one to an exponential in the number of degrees of freedom. We analyze this transition by means of a replica calculation.

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arXiv2022

Accelerating, to some extent, the $p$-spin dynamics

We consider a detailed-balance violating dynamics whose stationary state is a prescribed Boltzmann distribution. Such dynamics have been shown to be faster than any equilibrium counterpart. We quantify the gain in convergence speed for a system whose energy landscape displays one, and then an infinite number of, energy barriers. In the latter case, we work with the mean-field disordered $p$-spin, and show that the convergence to equilibrium or to the nonergodic phase is accelerated, both during the $β$ and $α$-relaxation stages. An interpretation in terms of trajectories in phase space and of an accidental fluctuation-dissipation theorem is provided.

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arXiv2021

Binding of thermalized and active membrane curvature-inducing proteins

Membrane phase behavior induced by the binding of curvature-inducing proteins is studied by a combination of analytical and numerical approaches. In thermal equilibrium under the detailed balance between binding and unbinding, the membrane exhibits three phases: an unbound uniform flat phase (U), a bound uniform flat phase (B), and a separated/corrugated phase (SC). In the SC phase, the bound proteins form hexagonally-ordered bowl-shaped domains. The transitions between the U and SC phases and between the B and SC phases are second order and first order, respectively. At a small spontaneous curvature of the protein or high surface tension, the transition between B and SC phases becomes continuous. Moreover, a first-order transition between the U and B phases is found at zero spontaneous curvature driven by the Casimir-like interactions between rigid proteins. Furthermore, nonequilibrium dynamics is investigated by the addition of active binding and unbinding at a constant rate. The active binding and unbinding processes alter the stability of the SC phase.

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arXiv2021

Active matter in infinite dimensions: Fokker-Planck equation and dynamical mean-field theory at low density

We investigate the behavior of self-propelled particles in infinite space dimensions by comparing two powerful approaches in many-body dynamics: the Fokker-Planck equation and dynamical mean-field theory. The dynamics of the particles at low densities and infinite persistence time is solved in the steady-state with both methods, thereby proving the consistency of the two approaches in a paradigmatic out-of-equilibrium system. We obtain the analytic expression for the pair distribution function and the effective self-propulsion to first order in the density, confirming the results obtained in a previous paper and extending them to the case of a non-monotonous interaction potential. Furthermore, we obtain the transient behavior of active hard spheres when relaxing from equilibrium to the nonequilibrium steady-state. Our results show how collective dynamics is affected by interactions to first order in the density, and point out future directions for further analytical and numerical solutions of this problem.

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arXiv2021

Statistical Mechanics of Active Ornstein Uhlenbeck Particles

We review and extend recent developments on the statistical properties of Active Ornstein Uhlenbeck particles (AOUPs). In this simplest of models, the Gaussian white noise of overdamped Brownian colloids is replaced by a Gaussian colored noise. This suffice to grant this system the hallmark properties of active matter, while still allowing for analytical progress. We first detail the perturbative derivation of the steady state of AOUPs in the small persistence time limit. We show the existence of an effective equilibrium regime in which detailed-balance is obeyed with respect to a non-Boltzmann distribution and detail the corresponding fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We then characterize the departure from equilibrium by computing several relevant observables (entropy production, ratchet current). At the collective level, we show AOUPs to experience motility-induced phase separation both in the presence of pairwise forces or due to quorum-sensing interactions. The latter can be accounted for by considering the steady-state of AOUPs with spatially varying propulsion speed or persistence time. Finally, we discuss how the emerging properties of AOUPs can be characterized from the dynamics of their collective modes, which we construct explicitly.

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arXiv2021

Time-(ir)reversibility in active matter: from micro to macro

Active matter encompasses systems whose individual consituents dissipate energy to exert propelling forces on their environment. This rapidly developing field harbors a dynamical phenomenology with no counterpart in passive systems. The extent to which this is rooted in the breaking of time-reversibility has recently triggered an important theoretical and experimental activity which is the focus of this review. Building on recent progress in the field, we disentangle the respective roles of the arrow of time and of the non-Boltzmann nature of steady-state fluctuations in single- and many-body active systems. We show that effective time-reversible descriptions of active systems may be found at all scales, and discuss how interactions, either between constituents or with external operators, may reveal the non-equilibrium nature of the microscopic source of energy. At a time when the engineering of active materials appears within our reach, this allows us to discuss to which extent methods stemming from equilibrium statistical mechanics may guide us in their design.

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arXiv2020

Collective motion in large deviations of active particles

We analyse collective motion that occurs during rare (large deviation) events in systems of active particles, both numerically and analytically. We discuss the associated dynamical phase transition to collective motion, which occurs when the active work is biased towards larger values, and is associated with alignment of particles' orientations. A finite biasing field is needed to induce spontaneous symmetry breaking, even in large systems. Particle alignment is computed exactly for a system of two particles. For many-particle systems, we analyse the symmetry breaking by an optimal-control representation of the biased dynamics, and we propose a fluctuating hydrodynamic theory that captures the emergence of polar order in the biased state.

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arXiv2020

Fluctuation-induced phase separation in metric and topological models of collective motion

We study the role of noise on the nature of the transition to collective motion in dry active matter. Starting from field theories that predict a continuous transition at the deterministic level, we show that fluctuations induce a density-dependent shift of the onset of order, which in turns changes the nature of the transition into a phase-separation scenario. Our results apply to a range of systems, including the topological models in which particles interact with a fixed number of nearest neighbors, which were believed so far to exhibit a continuous onset of order. Our analytical predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations of fluctuating hydrodynamics and microscopic models.

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arXiv2019

Active hard-spheres in infinitely many dimensions

Few equilibrium --even less so nonequilibrium-- statistical-mechanical models with continuous degrees of freedom can be solved exactly. Classical hard-spheres in infinitely many space dimensions are a notable exception. We show that even without resorting to a Boltzmann distribution, dimensionality is a powerful organizing device to explore the stationary properties of active hard-spheres evolving far from equilibrium. In infinite dimensions, we compute exactly the stationary state properties that govern and characterize the collective behavior of active hard-spheres: the structure factor and the equation of state for the pressure. In turn, this allows us to account for motility-induced phase-separation. Finally, we determine the crowding density at which the effective propulsion of a particle vanishes.

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arXiv2019

Spatial Organization of Active Particles with Field Mediated Interactions

We consider a system of independent point-like particles performing a Brownian motion while interacting with a Gaussian fluctuating background. These particles are in addition endowed with a discrete two-state internal degree of freedom that is subjected to a nonequilibrium source of noise, which affects their coupling with the background field. We explore the phase diagram of the system and pinpoint the role of the nonequilibrium drive in producing a nontrivial patterned spatial organization. We are able, by means of a weakly nonlinear analysis, to account for the parameter-dependence of the boundaries of the phase and pattern diagram in the stationary state.

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arXiv2019

Surface Tensions between Active Fluids and Solid Interfaces: bare vs dressed

We analyze the surface tension exerted at the interface between an active fluid and a solid boundary in terms of tangential forces. Focusing on active systems known to possess an equation of state for the pressure, we show that interfacial forces are of a more complex nature. Using a number of macroscopic setups, we show that the surface tension is a combination of an equation-of-state abiding part and of setup-dependent contributions. The latter arise from generic setup-dependent steady currents which "dress" the measurement of the "bare" surface tension. The former shares interesting properties with its equilibrium counterpart, and can be used to generalize the Young-Laplace law to active systems. We finally show how a suitably designed probe can directly access this bare surface tensions, which can also be computed using a generalized Virial formula.

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arXiv2018

Non-Gaussian noise without memory in active matter

Modeling the dynamics of an individual active particle invariably involves an isotropic noisy self-propulsion component, in the form of run-and-tumble motion or variations around it. This nonequilibrium source of noise is neither white---there is persistence---nor Gaussian. While emerging collective behavior in active matter has hitherto been attributed to the persistent ingredient, we focus on the non-Gaussian ingredient of self-propulsion. We show that by itself, that is without invoking any memory effect, it is able to generate particle accumulation close to boundaries and effective attraction between otherwise repulsive particles, a mechanism which generically leads to motility-induced phase separation in active matter.

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arXiv2017

Activity statistics in a colloidal glass former: experimental evidence for a dynamical transition

In a dense colloidal suspension at a volume fraction slightly lower than that of its glass transition, we follow the trajectories of an assembly of tracers over a large time window. We define a local activity, which quantifies the local tendency of the system to rearrange. We determine the statistics of the time and space integrated activity, and we argue that it develops a low activity tail that comes on a par with the onset of glassy behavior and heterogeneous dynamics. These rare events may be interpreted as the reflection of an underlying dynamic phase transition.

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