Angular velocity distribution of a granular planar rotator in a thermalized bath

TL;DR

This paper investigates the angular velocity distribution of a granular planar rotator in a thermal bath, revealing a transition from Gaussian to algebraic decay, with implications for experimental validation.

Contribution

It provides a combined numerical and analytical analysis of the angular velocity distribution, including new predictions for different mass regimes and comparisons with free-center rotators.

Findings

Distribution transitions from Gaussian to algebraic decay

Analytical and numerical agreement on distribution behavior

Proposed experimental tests for validation

Abstract

The kinetics of a granular planar rotator with a fixed center undergoing inelastic collisions with bath particles is analyzed both numerically and analytically by means of the Boltzmann equation. The angular velocity distribution evolves from quasi-gaussian in the Brownian limit to an algebraic decay in the limit of an infinitely light particle. In addition, we compare this model with a planar rotator with a free center. We propose experimental tests that might confirm the predicted behaviors.