We show that granular media consisting of metallic microparticles immersed in a poorly conducting liquid in strong DC electric field self-assemble a rich variety of novel phases. These phases include static precipitate: honeycombs and Wigner crystals; and novel dynamic condensate: toroidal vortices and pulsating rings. The observed structures are explained by the interplay between charged granular gas and electrohydrodynamic convective flows in the liquid.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0211070,
title = {Dynamic self-assembly and patterns in electrostatically driven granular media},
author = {M. V. Sapozhnikov and Y. V. Tolmachev and I. S. Aranson and W. -K. Kwok},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0211070},
year = {2009}
}