Universal Particle Kinetic Distribution in Crowded Environments

TL;DR

This paper introduces a universal particle velocity distribution model for crowded environments, validated through simulations and experiments, explaining particle deposition based on Péclet number and energy barriers.

Contribution

It proposes a modified Nakagami-m function as a universal model for particle velocity distributions in crowded environments, supported by simulations and experimental data.

Findings

The modified Nakagami-m function accurately fits particle velocity distributions.

The model explains particle deposition through Péclet number and energy barrier competition.

Validation with diverse data sets confirms the universality of the distribution.

Abstract

We study many-particle transport in heterogeneous, crowded environments at different particle P\'{e}clet numbers ($Pe^*$). We demonstrate that a modified Nakagami-$m$ function describes particle velocity probability distributions when particle deposition occurs. We assess the universality of said function through comparison against new Lagrangian simulations of various particle types as well as experimental data from the literature. We construe the function's physical meaning as its ability to explain particle deposition in terms of $Pe^*$ and the competition between distributions of energy barriers for particle release and particles' diffusive energy.