Clustering transitions in vibrofluidized magnetized granular materials

Daniel L. Blair, A. Kudrolli
2003 Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics  
We study the effects of long range interactions on the phases observed in cohesive granular materials. At high vibration amplitudes, a gas of magnetized particles is observed with velocity distributions similar to non-magnetized particles. Below a transition temperature compact clusters are observed to form and coexist with single particles. The cluster growth rate is consistent with a classical nucleation process. However, the temperature of the particles in the clusters is significantly lower
more » ... than the surrounding gas, indicating a breakdown of equipartition. If the system is quenched to low temperatures, a meta-stable network of connected chains self-assemble due to the anisotropic nature of magnetic interactions between particles.
doi:10.1103/physreve.67.021302 pmid:12636666 fatcat:5dvph4o56bbxfhc4jeat4f3som