Glass Transition for Driven Granular Fluids

TL;DR

This paper uses mode-coupling theory to predict a glass transition in driven granular fluids, showing how inelasticity and driving influence the transition density.

Contribution

It extends mode-coupling theory to driven dissipative granular systems, predicting a finite-density glass transition affected by inelasticity.

Findings

Glass transition occurs at finite density in driven granular fluids.

Transition density increases with inelasticity.

Transition persists even at fully inelastic collisions.

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of a driven system of dissipative hard spheres in the framework of mode-coupling theory. The dissipation is modeled by normal restitution, and driving is applied to individual particles in the bulk. In such a system, a glass transition is predicted for a finite transition density. For increasing inelasticity, the transition shifts to higher densities. Despite the strong driving at high dissipation, the transition persists up to the limit of totally inelastic normal restitution.