Cluster growth in driven granular gases.

Abstract

We investigate numerically and theoretically the internal structures of a driven granular gas in cuboidal cell geometries. Clustering is reported and particles are classified as gaseous or clustered via a local packing fraction criterion based on a Voronoi tessellation. We observe that small clusters arise in the corners of the box, elucidating early reports of partial clustering. These aggregates have a condensation-like surface growth. When a critical size is reached, a structural transition occurs and all clusters merge together, leaving a hole in the center of the cell. This hole then becomes the new center of particle capture. Taking into account all structural modifications and defining a saturation packing fraction, we propose an empirical model for the cluster growth.