University
of Toronto
Physics Department
Quantum Optics and Condensed Matter
MONDAY SEMINAR
University
of Toronto
| Speaker : | DR.
ELI BEN-NAIM
Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Topic : | SCHOCK DYNAMICS OF GRANULAR GASES |
| Time : | Monday, October 2, 2000 at 12:10 p.m. |
| Place : | Room MP408, Burton Tower 60 St. George Street / 255 Huron Street |
Abstract
Statistical properties of granular gases, specifically, ensembles of
particles interacting via hard core exclusions and undergoing dissipative
inelastic collisions, will be discussed. In one dimension, this system
is described by a classic continuum theory, the inviscid Burgers equation.
In particular, statistical characteristics such as the temperature
and the velocity distribution are independent of the degree of dissipation,
and the dynamics is governed by the perfectly inelastic "sticky gas"
fixed point. Several predictions of this theory are verified in higher
dimensions. Additionally, a recent experimental and theoretical study
of the dynamics of knots in vibrated granular chains will be briefly
described.
Local Host: Prof.
Rashmi Desai 
(416-978-5191)