State of matter

Physics

Jamming

Mathematics

Mechanics

Biology

Vortex

Phase transition

Mathematical analysis

Turbulence

Active matter

Critical point (mathematics)

Vorticity

Condensed matter physics

Intermittency

Quantum mechanics

Cell biology

Matter wave

Quantum

Nature Communications

We study the remarkable behaviour of dense active matter comprising self-propelled particles at large Péclet numbers, over a range of persistence times, from τ p → 0, when the active fluid undergoes a slowing down of density relaxations leading to a glass transition as the active propulsion force f reduces, to τ p → ∞ , when as f reduces, the fluid jams at a critical point, with stresses along force-chains. For intermediate τ p , a decrease in f drives the fluid through an intermittent phase before dynamical arrest at low f . This intermittency is a consequence of periods of jamming followed by bursts of plastic yielding associated with Eshelby deformations. On the other hand, an increase in f leads to an increase in the burst frequency; the correlated plastic events result in large scale vorticity and turbulence. Dense extreme active matter brings together the physics of glass, jamming, plasticity and turbulence, in a new state of driven classical matter.

Extreme active matter at high densities