Researchers at the University of Cambridge, led by Magnus F Ivarsen, have uncovered a novel thermodynamic phase transition in chiral active matter, a finding that could have significant implications for the energy sector. The study, published in the journal Nature Physics, explores the behavior of systems where particles or agents exhibit chiral, or handed, properties and are driven by internal energy sources.
The research team found that when subjected to low-frequency disorder, these systems exhibit global synchronization and energy dissipation. This means that the system’s components start moving in unison, and energy is lost to the surroundings. Conversely, high-frequency disorder activates a topological heat pump, which generates an inverse energy cascade. This process drives the system towards an Onsager dipole, a state where energy is concentrated in large-scale structures. If the system’s dispersion is insufficient to overcome the defect lattice, this dipole can be arrested into a metastable vortex glass, a state where the system’s energy is effectively trapped.
The researchers propose that these phenomena can be described by a new universality class, which they term “topological gas dynamics.” This class is governed by the interplay of active disorder and topological sorting, unifying active swarms and classical inviscid fluids. In simpler terms, this means that the behavior of these systems can be described by a set of universal principles, regardless of the specific details of the system.
For the energy industry, these findings could lead to new ways of controlling and harnessing energy in systems that exhibit chiral active matter, such as certain types of fluids or swarms of robots. For instance, understanding how to trigger and control the inverse energy cascade could lead to more efficient energy storage systems. Similarly, the ability to arrest the system in a metastable vortex glass could provide a way to store energy in a stable, concentrated form. However, these applications are still speculative and would require further research.
In conclusion, the research by Magnus F Ivarsen and his team at the University of Cambridge has identified a new phase transition in chiral active matter, which could have significant implications for the energy industry. The proposed universality class of topological gas dynamics provides a framework for understanding and controlling these systems, potentially leading to new energy storage and management strategies. The research was published in Nature Physics, a leading journal in the field of physics.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.