Statistical mechanics of a chiral active fluid

Understand

Statistical mechanics provides the foundation for describing complex materials using only a few thermodynamic variables.

• No such framework currently exists far from equilibrium.
• In this Letter, we demonstrate how thermodynamics emerges far from equilibrium, using fluids composed of active spinners as a case study.
• Activity gives rise to a single effective temperature that parameterizes both the equation of state and the emergent Boltzmann statistics.