Model of coarsening and vortex formation in vibrated granular rods.

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2003 · Phys. Rev. E

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.021305· OSTI ID:949593

Aranson, I S; Tsimring, L S

Neicu et al. observed experimentally spontaneous formation of the long-range orientational order and large-scale vortices in a system of vibrated macroscopic rods. We propose a phenomenological theory of this phenomenon based on a coupled system of equations for local rods density and tilt. The density evolution is described by the modified Cahn-Hilliard equation, while the tilt is described by the Ginzburg-Landau type equation. Our analysis shows that, in accordance with the Cahn-Hilliard dynamics, islands of the ordered phase appear spontaneously and grow due to coarsening. The generic vortex solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equation for the tilt correspond to the vortical motion of the rods around the cores which are located near the centers of the islands.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 949593
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-42285
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. E, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. E Journal Issue: Feb. 2003 Vol. 6701; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
RODS
VORTICES