Flow can order: Phases of live XY spins in two dimensions

Abstract: We present the hydrodynamic theory of active XY spins coupled with flow fields, for systems both having and or lacking number conservation in two dimensions (2D). For the latter, with strong activity or nonequilibrium drive, the system can synchronize, or be phase-ordered with various types of order, e.g., quasi long range order (QLRO) or new kind of order weaker or stronger than QLRO for sufficiently strong active flow-phase couplings. For the number conserving case, the system can show QLRO or order weaker than QLRO, again for sufficiently strong active flow-phase couplings. For other choices of the model parameters, the system necessarily disorders in a manner similar to immobile but active XY spins, or 2D Kardar-Parisi-Zhang surfaces.