Transient structures in a Granular Gas

TL;DR

This study investigates transient structure formation in a force-free granular gas with velocity-dependent restitution, using molecular dynamics, hydrodynamic simulations, and stability analysis, revealing that such structures are only temporary.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis showing that structures in force-free granular gases are transient, combining three independent methods for validation.

Findings

Structures form transiently in force-free granular gases.

All methods agree on the transient nature of these structures.

The velocity-dependent restitution influences the formation process.

Abstract

A force-free granular gas is considered with impact-velocity dependent coefficient of restitution as it follows from the model of viscoelastic particles. We analyze structure formation in this system by means of three independent methods: Molecular Dynamics, numerical solution of the hydrodynamic equations and linear stability analysis of these equations. All these approaches indicate that structure formation occurs in force-free granular gases only as a transient process.