On random graphs and the statistical mechanics of granular matter
Statistical Mechanics
2016-08-31 v2
Abstract
The dynamics of spins on a random graph with ferromagnetic three-spin interactions is used to model the compaction of granular matter under a series of taps. Taps are modelled as the random flipping of a small fraction of the spins followed by a quench at zero temperature. We find that the density approached during a logarithmically slow compaction - the random-close-packing density - corresponds to a dynamical phase transition. We discuss the the role of cascades of successive spin-flips in this model and link them with density-noise power fluctuations observed in recent experiments.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0012416,
title = {On random graphs and the statistical mechanics of granular matter},
author = {Johannes Berg and Anita Mehta},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0012416},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
minor changes, to appear in EPL