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First-order phase transition and the equation of state in a 2D granular fluid

M. D. Shattuck
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Abstract

We present experimental evidence for a first-order freezing/melting phase transition in a nonequilibrium system -- an oscillated two-dimensional isobaric granular fluid. The steady-state transition occurs between a gas and a crystal and is characterized by a discontinuous change in both density and temperature. It is suppressed if the number of particles is incommensurate with the cell size, shows rate-dependent hysteresis, and obeys the Lindemann criterion for melting. Further, the measured equation of state both above and below the phase transition compares well with theory.

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M. D. Shattuck. 2006-10-30. First-order phase transition and the equation of state in a 2D granular fluid. https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0610839

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