Electrostatically driven granular media: phase transitions and coarsening
We report the experimental and theoretical study of electrostatically driven granular material. We show that the charged granular medium undergoes a hysteretic phase transition from the immobile condensed state (granular solid) to a fluidized dilated state (granular gas) with a changing applied electric field. In addition we observe a spontaneous precipitation of dense clusters from the gas phase and subsequent coarsening-coagulation of these clusters. Molecular dynamics simulations show qualitative agreement with experimental results.
Aranson
IS
Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.
Blair
D
Kalatsky
VA
Crabtree
GW
Kwok
W
Vinokur
VM
Welp
U