Hexagons, kinks, and disorder in oscillated granular layers

Journal Article · Mon Nov 20 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.3838· OSTI ID:147865

Melo, F ^[1]; Umbanhowar, P B; Swinney, H L ^[2]

---

1. Departamento de Fisica, Universidad de Santiago, Avenida Ecuador 3493, Casilla 307 Correo 2, Santiago (Chile)
2. Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)

Experiments on vertically oscillated granular layers in an evacuated container reveal a sequence of well-defined pattern bifurcations as the container acceleration is increased. Period doublings of the layer center of mass motion and a standing wave instability interact to produce hexagons and more complicated patterns composed of distinct spatial domains of different relative phase separated by kinks (phase discontinuities). A simple model displays quantitative agreement with the observed transition sequence. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital The} {ital American} {ital Physical} {ital Society}.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-93ER14312
• OSTI ID: 147865
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 75; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BIFURCATION
CONTAINERS
HEXAGONAL CONFIGURATION
INSTABILITY
LAYERS
OSCILLATIONS
PHASE STUDIES
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
STANDING WAVES