Devaraj van der Meer et al J. Stat. Mech. (2007) P07021 doi:10.1088/1742-5468/2007/07/P07021
Devaraj van der Meer1, Ko van der Weele2, Peter Reimann3 and Detlef Lohse1
Show affiliationsPart of Focus on Dynamics of Non-Equilibrium Systems
A review is given of our previous work on the clustering phenomenon for vibrofluidized granular matter in an array of connected compartments, being a prime example of spontaneous pattern formation in a many-body system far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Experiments show that when the shaking strength is reduced below a certain critical level, the grains cluster together: first into a subset of the compartments and ultimately, on a much longer timescale, into a single compartment. These experimental observations are explained qualitatively and quantitatively by a dynamical flux model.
We discuss several variations on the original system, altering the openings between the compartments, in such a way that the clustering induces convective patterns and directed transport. Here the bifurcational structure becomes more intricate, but is again fully explained by the corresponding flux model.
Issue 07 (July 2007)
Received 16 March 2007, accepted for publication 27 April 2007
Published 25 July 2007
Devaraj van der Meer et al J. Stat. Mech. (2007) P07021
N Crampé et al J. Stat. Mech. (2008) P01015
Stefano Ciliberti and Marc Mézard J. Stat. Mech. (2005) P10003
G Santhosh et al J. Stat. Mech. (2005) P07005
Alexander L Korzhenevskii et al J. Stat. Mech. (2008) P04013
A M Povolotsky and V B Priezzhev J. Stat. Mech. (2006) P07002
Massimo Ostilli J. Stat. Mech. (2007) P09010
J-P Kownacki J. Stat. Mech. (2008) P07024
Jan de Gier and Fabian H L Essler J. Stat. Mech. (2006) P12011
A Puglisi et al J. Stat. Mech. (2007) P08016