Escaping kinetic traps using non-reciprocal interactions*

Kinetic traps pose significant challenges in equilibrium statistical mechanics, where temperature quenches often fail to guide the system towards lower-energy configurations. Our research focuses on using multifarious self-assembly as a model system to tackle this issue. We introduce a mechanism that leverages non-reciprocal interactions among system components, disrupting the conventional action-reaction symmetry and introducing non-equilibrium effects. This approach effectively redirects the system away from arrested dynamics and towards more favorable energy states. We analyze the dynamics of our model using techniques from the physics of interfaces and defects. The implications of our proposal extend beyond theory, with potential applications in self-assembly processes, the study of glassy systems, and systems afflicted by arrested dynamics.