Isotropic-Nematic Transition of Active Brownian Particles

Using overdamped Brownian dynamics simulations we investigate the isotropic-nematic (IN) tran-
sition of anisotropic, active particles. Using two well-studied model systems (the Gay-Berne potential
and hard spherocylinders) we consistently find that the IN transition moves to higher densities with
increasing activity. The active IN phase boundary separates well-defined nonequilibrium phases and
is not dependent upon the size of the simulation, in contrast to the isotropic-polar boundary, which
occurs at higher activity.