title: Self-organized patterns in collections of chains.
abstract: Results are presented of an experimental investigation into patterned segregation in thin layers of poppy seeds and short lengths of metal chains subjected to vibration. Critical phenomena are uncovered and both continuous and discontinuous transitions are observed. A phase diagram for the behavior is mapped out and a tricritical point that separates hysteretic from continuous segregation is identified. Remarkable similarities are found between the observed behavior in this driven granular system and phase separation phenomena in mixtures where the dynamics of the constituent components are markedly different.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mullin
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010207:Papaver / Q000737:chemistry*; D044367:Phase Transition; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D008670:Metals