Sub-anomalous diffusion and unusual velocity distribution evolution in cooling granular gases: theory

TL;DR

This paper derives from first principles that particle diffusion in cooling granular gases is logarithmic over time, providing a new theoretical understanding that aligns with Haff's law and predicts an unusual velocity distribution evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a first-principles derivation of diffusion and velocity distribution evolution in cooling granular gases, avoiding common approximations and clarifying the decay dynamics.

Findings

MSD increases logarithmically with time

Haff's law for energy decay is derived from first principles

Unusual functional form for velocity distribution evolution

Abstract

There is no agreement in the literature on the rate of diffusion of a particle in a cooling granular gas. Predictions and model assumptions range from the conventional to very exotic dependence of the mean square distance (MSD) on time. This problem is addressed here by calculating the MSD from first-principles. The calculation is based on random-walking and it circumvents the common use of continuum equations and equations of states, which involve approximations that erode at low gas particle densities. The MSD is found to increase logarithmically with time -- slower than even in anomalous diffusion. This result is consistent with the well-established Haff's law for the decay of the kinetic energy, which is also derived along the way from the same first principles. This derivation also pins down Haff's time constant, alleviating the usual need for a fitting parameter. The diffusion theory is then used to calculate explicitly the time evolution of any initial particle velocity distribution, yielding an unusual functional form. The limitations of the theory are discussed and extensions to it are outlined.