Exact moments for trapped active particles: inertial impact on steady-state properties and re-entrance

Abstract

Abstract In this study, we investigate the behavior of inertial active Brownian particles in a d-dimensional harmonic trap in the presence of translational diffusion. While the solution of the Fokker–Planck equation is generally challenging, it can be utilized to compute the exact time evolution of all time-dependent dynamical moments using a Laplace transform approach. We present the explicit form for several moments of position and velocity in d-dimensions. An interplay of time scales assures that the effective diffusivity and steady-state kinetic temperature depend on both inertia and trap strength, unlike passive systems. The distance from equilibrium, measured by the violation of equilibrium fluctuation-dissipation and the amount of entropy production, decreases with increasing inertia and trap strength. We present detailed ‘phase diagrams’ using kurtosis of velocity and position, showing possibilities of re-entrance to equilibrium.