Universal features of jamming in a model of frictionless granular media

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Universal features of jamming in a model of frictionless granular media

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 5th February 2001
  • Speaker: David Head (University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Recent results of Corey O'Hern et al. [1] have highlighted the possibility of universal behaviour in a wide range of jammed systems, including supercooled liquids, granular media and foams. Motivated by this observation, Alexei Tkachenko (Bell Labs), Tom Witten (Chicago) and myself have investigated packings of frictionless rigid discs, using an algorithm originally devised by Tkachenko and Witten [2]. By measuring P(F), the distribution of pair-particle forces, we have confirmed the qualitative trends in [1], namely the formation of a plateau or peak at small forces in the jammed state, which progressively vanishes under shear. We have also attempted to define a quantitative measure of the degree of 'chain-ness' in the system, and discuss how this may relate to jamming. References [1] C. S. O'Hern, S. A. Langer, A. J. Liu and S. R. Nagel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 111 (2000).
[2] A. V. Tkachenko and T. A. Witten, Phys. Rev. E 62, 2510 (2000).

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

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