Active Matter and Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics: Lecture Notes of the Les Houches Summer School: Volume 112, September 2018

Active matter is found at all scales in the biological world, and scientists have engineered synthetic active particles in the lab to create smart active materials. This book gathers lecture notes from a summer school on Active Matter, covering collective behaviors, colloidal systems, biophysics, and nonequilibrium statistical physics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 672 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Active entities, ranging from molecular motors to bacteria, crawling cells to large animals, exist across all scales in the biological world. Active matter encompasses systems in which individual constituents irreversibly dissipate energy to exert self-propelling forces on their environment. Over the past two decades, scientists have successfully engineered synthetic active particles in the laboratory, paving the way for the development of smart active materials. This book presents a comprehensive set of lecture notes covering topics in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and active matter. These lecture notes originated from the inaugural summer school on Active Matter, held at the Les Houches school of Physics. The lectures encompassed four primary research directions: collective behaviors in active-matter systems, passive and active colloidal systems, biophysics and active matter, and nonequilibrium statistical physics, spanning from passive to active states.

Collective behaviors in active-matter systems involve the study of how groups of particles interact and move together, exhibiting emergent properties such as self-organization and collective motion. Passive and active colloidal systems explore the interactions between particles and the surrounding medium, including the formation of complex structures, phase transitions, and the transport of particles. Biophysics and active matter delve into the biological aspects of active matter, including the behavior of cells, tissues, and organisms, with an emphasis on the role of active processes in biological functions. Nonequilibrium statistical physics focuses on the study of systems in which the balance between energy and entropy is constantly shifting, leading to the emergence of complex patterns and behaviors.

These lecture notes provide a pedagogical introduction to the field of active matter, suitable for students and researchers interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics and behaviors exhibited by active systems. The notes cover a wide range of topics, including theoretical models, experimental techniques, and applications in various fields, such as materials science, biology, and physics. By presenting a comprehensive overview of active matter, this book aims to inspire further research and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.

Weight: 1380g
Dimension: 178 x 253 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192858313