Electrification in granular gases leads to constrained fractal growth.

ABSTRACT: The empirical observation of aggregation of dielectric particles under the influence of electrostatic forces lies at the origin of the theory of electricity. The growth of clusters formed of small grains underpins a range of phenomena from the early stages of planetesimal formation to aerosols. However, the collective effects of Coulomb forces on the nonequilibrium dynamics and aggregation process in a granular gas - a model representative of the above physical processes - have so far evaded theoretical scrutiny. Here, we establish a hydrodynamic description of aggregating granular gases that exchange charges upon collisions and interact via the long-ranged Coulomb forces. We analytically derive the governing equations for the evolution of granular temperature, charge variance, and number

SUBMITTER: Singh C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6588598 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature