title: Polarization of active Janus particles.
abstract: We theoretically study the motion of surface-active Janus particles, driven by an effective slip velocity due to a nonuniform temperature or concentration field ψ. With parameters realized in thermal traps, we find that the torque exerted by the gradient ∇ψ inhibits rotational diffusion and favors alignment of the particle axes. In a swarm of active particles, this polarization adds a novel term to the drift velocity and modifies the collective behavior. Self-polarization in a nonuniform laser beam could be used for guiding hot particles along a given trajectory.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine, Université de Bordeaux & CNRS, 33405 Talence, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zecua
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine, Université de Bordeaux & CNRS, 33405 Talence, France.
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Würger
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids