Run-and-tumble motion in a harmonic potential: field theory and entropy production

Abstract

Abstract Run-and-tumble (RnT) motion is an example of active motility where particles move at constant speed and change direction at random times. In this work we study RnT motion with diffusion in a harmonic potential in one dimension via a path integral approach. We derive a Doi-Peliti field theory and use it to calculate the entropy production and other observables in closed form. All our results are exact.