Motility-Induced Crystallization and Rotating Crystallites [Motilitätsinduzierte Kristallisation und rotierende Kristallite]

Holl, M. P.; Steinberg, A. B.; te Vrugt, M.; Thiele, U.

Abstract

Active soft matter frequently shows motility-induced phase separation, where self-propelled particles condensate into clusters with an inner liquidlike structure. Such activity may also result in motility-induced crystallization into clusters with an inner crystalline structure. We derive a higher-order active phase-field-crystal model and employ it to study the interplay of passive (i.e., thermodynamic) and active (i.e., motility-induced) condensation or evaporation and crystallization or melting. Stability and morphological phase diagrams indicate the various occurring phase coexistences and transitions, e.g., the destruction of passive clusters in the case of a density-independent effective velocity and the possible creation of active clusters in the case of a density-dependent effective velocity. Finally, simple and complex rotating crystallites are discussed, including states of time-periodic chirality.

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