title: Effect of inelasticity on the phase transitions of a thin vibrated granular layer.
abstract: We describe an experimental and computational investigation of the ordered and disordered phases of a vibrating thin, dense granular layer composed of identical metal spheres. We compare the results from spheres with different amounts of inelasticity and show that inelasticity has a strong effect on the phase diagram. We also report the melting of an ordered phase to a homogeneous disordered liquid phase at high vibration amplitude or at large inelasticities. Our results show that dissipation has a strong effect on ordering and that in this system ordered phases are absent entirely in highly inelastic materials.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Vega
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Urbach