Entropy Production in a System of Janus Particles

Abstract

Entropy production is a key descriptor of out-of-equilibrium behavior in active matter systems, providing insights into both single-particle dynamics and emergent collective phenomena. It helps determine transport coefficients and phoretic velocities and serves as a crucial tool for understanding collective phenomena such as structural transitions, regime shifts, clustering, and self-organization. This study investigates the role of entropy production for individual active (catalytic Janus) particles and in systems of active particles interacting with one another and their environment. We employ a multiscale framework to bridge microscopic particle dynamics and macroscopic behavior, offering a thermodynamic perspective on active matter. These findings enhance our understanding of the fundamental principles governing active particle systems and create new opportunities for addressing unresolved questions in non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Keywords

• active particles
• energy dissipation
• entropy production
• janus particles
• self-assembly