Angular velocity distribution of a granular planar rotator in a thermalized bath.
The kinetics of a granular planar rotator with a fixed center undergoing inelastic collisions with bath particles is analyzed both numerically and analytically by means of the Boltzmann equation. The angular velocity distribution evolves from quasi-Gaussian in the Brownian limit to an algebraic decay in the limit of an infinitely light particle. In addition, we compare this model to that of a planar rotator with a free center and discuss the prospects for experimental confirmation of these results.
Piasecki
J
J
Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Warsaw, Hoza 69, Warsaw, Poland.
Talbot
J
J
Viot
P
P