The equilibrium phase in heterogeneous Hertzian chains. (12th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Przedborski, Michelle; Sen, Surajit; Harroun, Thad A
• Is Part Of: Journal of statistical mechanics. (2017:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2017-12-12
• Subjects: 4 -- 12 -- 16; Statistical mechanics -- Periodicals; Mechanics -- Statistical methods -- Periodicals; 530.1305
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-5468/aa9a62
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5468

Abstract

Abstract: We examine the long-term behaviour of non-integrable, energy-conserved, 1D systems of macroscopic grains interacting via a contact-only generalized Hertz potential and held between stationary walls. We previously showed that in homogeneous configurations of such systems, energy is equipartitioned at sufficiently long times, thus these systems ultimately reach thermal equilibrium. Here we expand on our previous work to show that heterogeneous configurations of grains also reach thermal equilibrium at sufficiently long times, as indicated by the calculated heat capacity. We investigate the transition to equilibrium in detail and introduce correlation functions that indicate the onset of the transition.