Slow dynamics under gravity: a nonlinear diffusion model

Jeferson J. Arenzon, Yan Levin and Mauro Sellitto

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2003, vol. 325, issue 3, 371-395

Abstract: We present an analytical and numerical study of a nonlinear diffusion model which describes density relaxation of densely packed particles under gravity and weak random (thermal) vibration, and compare the results with Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice gas under gravity. The dynamical equation can be thought of as a local density functional theory for a class of lattice gases used to model slow relaxation of glassy and granular materials. The theory predicts a jamming transition line between a low-density fluid phase and a high-density glassy regime, characterized by diverging relaxation time and logarithmic or power-law compaction according to the specific form of the diffusion coefficient. In particular, we show that the model exhibits history-dependent properties, such as quasi-reversible–irreversible cycle and memory effects—as observed in recent experiments, and dynamical heterogeneities.

Keywords: Granular matter; Structural arrest; Glass transition; Compaction dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:325:y:2003:i:3:p:371-395

DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(03)00251-6

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