Orientational correlation and velocity distributions in uniform shear flow of a dilute granular gas
arXiv:0802.0056 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.068002
Abstract
Using particle simulations of the uniform shear flow of a rough dilute granular gas, we show that the translational and rotational velocities are strongly correlated in direction, but there is no orientational correlation-induced singularity at perfectly smooth () and rough () limits for elastic collisions (); both the translational and rotational velocity distribution functions remain close to a Gaussian for these two limiting cases. Away from these two limits, the orientational as well as spatial velocity correlations are responsible for the emergence of non-Gaussian high velocity tails. The tails of both distribution functions follow stretched exponentials, with the exponents depending on normal () and tangential () restitution coefficients.
Physical Review Letters (accepted)