Velocity fluctuations in electrostatically driven granular media.
We study experimentally the particle velocity fluctuations in an electrostatically driven dilute granular gas. The velocity distributions have strong deviations from a Maxwellian form over a wide range of parameters. We have found that the tails of the distribution functions are consistent with a stretched exponential law with typical exponents of the order 3/2. Molecular dynamic simulations shows qualitative agreement with experimental data. Our results suggest that this non-Gaussian behavior is typical of most inelastic gases with both short- and long-range interactions.
Aranson
I S
IS
Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.
Olafsen
J S
JS