Velocity Reversal Criterion of a Body Immersed in a Sea of Particles
arXiv:1404.0652 · doi:10.1007/s00220-015-2368-y
Abstract
We consider a rigid body colliding with a continuum of particles. We assume that the body is moving at a velocity close to an equilibrium velocity V_{\infty} and that the particles colliding with the body reflect diffusely, that is, probabilistically with some probablility distribution K. We find a condition that is sufficient and almost necessary that the collective force of the colliding particles reverses the relative velocity V(t) of the body, that is, changes the sign of V(t)-V_{\infty}, before the body approaches equilibrium. Examples of both reversal and irreversal are given. This is in strong contrast with the pure specular reflection case in which only reversal happens.
Revised according to the referee reports. Accepted to appear in Communications in Mathematical Physics