Applicability of equilibrium statistical physics tools to active matter

Determine whether the standard tools of equilibrium statistical physics are applicable to active matter and delineate the parameter regimes (e.g., activity strength and persistence time) where such tools remain valid or break down.

Background

Active systems are inherently out of equilibrium, raising doubts about the applicability of equilibrium-based analytical tools and concepts.

While generalized fluctuation-dissipation ideas may hold in weakly non-equilibrium regimes, a systematic assessment of applicability boundaries is lacking.