Kinetics of 2D-constrained orbitally-shaken particles

TL;DR

This study investigates the movement and diffusion of particles confined to a 2D domain under orbital shaking, showing they behave like a confined random walk, useful for understanding molecular dynamics.

Contribution

The paper provides the first experimental analysis of 2D orbitally-shaken particles, demonstrating their behavior aligns with a confined random walk model.

Findings

Particles exhibit velocities consistent with random walk theory.

Diffusivity matches predictions of confined diffusion models.

System serves as a macroscopic analog for molecular dynamics.

Abstract

We present an experimental study of the kinetics of orbitally-shaken macroscopic particles confined to a two-dimensional bounded domain. Discounting the forcing action of the external periodic actuation, the particles show translational velocities and diffusivity consistent with a confined random walk model. Such experimental system may therefore represent a suitable macroscopic analog to investigate aspects of molecular dynamics and self-assembly.