2025/03/25 by Zahra K. Valei, Valei, Zahra K., Tyler N. Shendruk +1 · 1 citation
Chemical Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Micro and Nano Robotics #Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization #Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2503.19985
openalex publication_date 2025/03/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Biological systems commonly combine intrinsically out-of-equilibrium active components with passive polymeric inclusions to produce unique material properties. To explore these composite systems, idealized models - such as polymers in active fluids - are essential to develop a predictive theoretical framework. We simulate a single, freely jointed passive chain in two-dimensional active turbulence. Active flows advect the polymer, producing a substantially enhanced diffusivity. Our results reveal that the dimensionless diffusivity obeys scaling laws governed by the Péclet, Weissenberg, and Ericksen numbers, which paves the way for designing active/polymeric hybrid materials with predictable properties that differ significantly from those of nondeformable inclusions.