title: Coefficient of restitution as a fluctuating quantity.
abstract: The coefficient of restitution of a spherical particle in contact with a flat plate is investigated as a function of the impact velocity. As an experimental observation we notice nontrivial (non-Gaussian) fluctuations of the measured values. For a fixed impact velocity, the probability density of the coefficient of restitution, p(ɛ), is formed by two exponential functions (one increasing, one decreasing) of different slope. This behavior may be explained by a certain roughness of the particle which leads to energy transfer between the linear and rotational degrees of freedom.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montaine
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heckel
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kruelle
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwager
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pöschel