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This content will become publicly available on August 1, 2026

Title: Energetic Variational Modeling of Active Nematics: Coupling the Toner–Tu Model with ATP Hydrolysis
We present a thermodynamically consistent energetic variational model for active nematics driven by ATP hydrolysis. Extending the classical Toner–Tu framework, we introduce a chemo-mechanical coupling mechanism in which the self-advection and polarization dynamics are modulated by the ATP hydrolysis rate. The model is derived using an energetic variational approach that integrates both chemical free energy and mechanical energy into a unified energy dissipation law. The reaction rate equation explicitly incorporates mechanical feedback, revealing how active transport and alignment interactions influence chemical fluxes and vice versa. This formulation not only preserves consistency with non-equilibrium thermodynamics but also provides a transparent pathway for modeling energy transduction in active systems. We also present numerical simulations demonstrating the positive energy transduction under a specific choice of model parameters. The new modeling framework offers new insights into energy transduction and regulation mechanisms in biologically related active systems.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2410740
PAR ID:
10626862
Author(s) / Creator(s):
Publisher / Repository:
MDPI
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Entropy
Volume:
27
Issue:
8
ISSN:
1099-4300
Page Range / eLocation ID:
801
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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