Active Brownian Particle Dynamics at High Densities

Active Brownian particles are a model system that allows physicists to understand the principles of self-propelled motion of swimming microorganisms, and also to study generic principles of motion far from thermal equilibrium. Sufficiently dense systems can kinetically arrest into a disordered state where long-range motion of individual particles is suppressed. This state is called the active glassy state. We have developed a theoretical approach to study the interplay of steric hindrance and active motion close to kinetic arrest, based on the mode-coupling theory of the glass transition. Due to the coupling between increasingly slowly relaxing collective density fluctuations and the individual swimming directions of the particles, the numerical solution of evolution equations derived within the theory becomes a formidable numerical task. We report on results obtained with the help of JURECA’s computing facilities