Simple model for active nematics: quasi-long-range order and giant fluctuations

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 May 12;96(18):180602. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.180602. Epub 2006 May 9.

Abstract

We propose a simple microscopic model for active nematic particles similar in spirit to the Vicsek model for self-propelled polar particles. In two dimensions, we show that this model exhibits a Kosterlitz-Thouless-like transition to quasi-long-range orientational order and that in this nonequilibrium context, the ordered phase is characterized by giant density fluctuations, in agreement with the predictions of Ramaswamy et al.