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Velocity Distribution of a Homogeneously Driven Two-Dimensional Granular Gas

Christian Scholz and Thorsten Pöschel
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 198003 – Published 12 May 2017
Physics logo See Focus story: Self-Spinning Grains Prove Granular Theory
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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.

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  • Received 22 November 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.198003

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Physical Systems
Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics

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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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Authors & Affiliations

Christian Scholz and Thorsten Pöschel

  • Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 19 — 12 May 2017

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