Abstract
The theory of homogeneously driven granular gases of hard particles predicts that the stationary state is characterized by a velocity distribution function with overpopulated high-energy tails as compared to the exponential decay valid for molecular gases. While this fundamental theoretical result was confirmed by numerous numerical simulations, an experimental confirmation is still missing. Using self-rotating active granular particles, we find a power-law decay of the velocity distribution whose exponent agrees well with the theoretic prediction.
- Received 22 November 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.198003
© 2017 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Focus
Self-Spinning Grains Prove Granular Theory
Published 12 May 2017
Measurements of a two-dimensional “gas” made up of particles that spin when shaken bolsters a gas-like theory for granular materials.
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