Intermittency, fluctuations and maximal chaos in an emergent universal state of active turbulence

Abstract

A hydrodynamic model of active, low Reynolds number suspensions, shows the emergence of an asymptotic state with a universal spectral scaling and non-Gaussian (intermittent) fluctuations in the velocity field. Such states arise when these systems are pushed beyond a critical level of activity and show features akin to high Reynolds number, inertial turbulence. We provide compelling numerical and analytical evidence for the existence of such a transition at a critical value of activity and further show that the maximally chaotic states are tied to this transition.