Abstract
We investigate hydrodynamic fluctuations in a two-dimensional granular fluid excited by a vibrating base and in the presence of gravity, focusing on the transverse velocity modes. Since the system is inhomogeneous, we measure fluctuations in horizontal layers whose width is smaller than the characteristic hydrodynamic lengths: they can be considered as almost-homogeneous subsystems. The large time decay of the autocorrelations of modes is exponential and compatible with vorticity diffusion due to shear viscosity, as in equilibrium fluids. The velocity structure factor, which strongly deviates from the equilibrium constant behavior, is well reproduced by an effective fluctuating hydrodynamics described by two noise terms: the first associated with vorticity diffusion and the second with the local energy exchange, which have internal and external character, respectively.
- Received 26 May 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.031307
©2011 American Physical Society