Probing the limits of effective temperature consistency in actively driven systems.

ABSTRACT: We investigate the thermodynamic properties of a single inertial probe driven into a nonequilibrium steady state by random collisions with self-propelled active walkers. The probe and walkers are confined within a gravitational harmonic potential. We evaluate the robustness of the effective temperature concept in this active system by comparing values of distinct, independently motivated definitions: a generalized fluctuation-dissipation relation, a kinetic temperature, and via a work fluctuation relation. Our experiments reveal that, under specific conditions, these independent measurements coincide over a wide range of system configurations, yielding a remarkably consistent effective temperature. Furthermore, we also identify regimes where this consistency breaks down, which delin

SUBMITTER: Boriskovsky D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12771276 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature