Phys. Rev. E 70, 050301(R) (2004) [4 pages]Nonequilibrium two-phase coexistence in a confined granular layer
We report the observation of the homogenous nucleation of crystals in a dense layer of steel spheres confined between two horizontal plates vibrated vertically. Above a critical vibration amplitude, two-layer crystals with square symmetry were found to coexist in steady state with a surrounding granular liquid. By analogy to equilibrium hard-sphere systems, the phase behavior may be explained through entropy maximization. However, dramatic nonequilibrium effects are present, including a significant difference in the granular temperatures of the two phases. © 2004 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.050301
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevE.70.050301
PACS:
45.70.Mg, 05.70.Fh, 05.70.Ln, 83.10.Rs
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