9 papers
Finite-Time Optimal Control by Noisy Traps
Luca Cocconi, Henry Alston, Thibault Bertrand
The optimal control of passive systems in equilibrium typically favours quasistatic (infinite-time) protocols. We show that a breakdown of quasistatic optimality occurs when the co…
Microscopic theory of soft run-and-tumble particles
Rosalba Garcia-Millan, Ziluo Zhang, Luca Cocconi +4
Soft, repulsive run-and-tumble particles display emergent effective interactions as they appear to stick to each other in spite of the absence of attractive forces. This effective…
Effective attraction by repulsion
Rosalba Garcia-Millan, Luca Cocconi, Ziluo Zhang +4
Repulsive self-propelled particles tend to cluster, leading to Motility-Induced Phase Separation (MIPS). By analogy with equilibrium phase separation, the onset of MIPS has been as…
Odd pathways speed up self-assembly
Dawid DopieraÅa, Luca Cocconi, Robert L. Jack +1
Active self-assembly can bypass equilibrium bottlenecks through external energy injection. However, generic driving typically distorts target structures and requires sustained ener…
Nonequilibrium energetics of sensing and actuation by a smart active particle
Luca Cocconi, Benoît Mahault, Lorenzo Piro
Smart active agents must allocate finite energetic resources across distinct functions, yet the underlying thermodynamic trade-offs remain poorly understood. Here, we introduce a m…
Mechanical inhibition of dissipation in a thermodynamically consistent active solid
Luca Cocconi, Michalis Chatzittofi, Ramin Golestanian
The study of active solids offers a window into the mechanics and thermodynamics of dense living matter. A key aspect of the non-equilibrium dynamics of such active systems is a me…