Mathematics

Research reports on physics from Australian National University provide new insights

  2008 NOV 24 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from Canberra, Australia, "We investigate equal spheres packings generated from several experiments and from a large number of different numerical simulations. The structural organization of these disordered packings is studied in terms of the network of common neighbours."

  "This geometrical analysis reveals sharp changes in the network's clustering occurring at the packing fractions (fraction of volume occupied by the spheres respect to the total volume, rho) corresponding to the so called Random Loose Packing limit (RLP, rho similar to 0.555) and Random Close Packing limit (RCP, rho similar to 0.645). At these packing fractions we also observe abrupt changes in the fluctuations of the portion of free volume around each sphere," wrote T. Aste and colleagues, Australian National University.

  The researchers concluded: "We analyze such fluctuations by means of a statistical mechanics approach and we show that these anomalies are associated to sharp variations in a generalized thermodynamical variable which is the analogous for these a-thermal systems to the specific heat in thermal systems."

  Aste and colleagues published their study in European Physical Journal B (Structural transitions in granular packs: statistical mechanics and statistical geometry investigations. European Physical Journal B, 2008;64(3-4):511-517).

  For more information, contact T. Aste, Australian National University, Dept. of Applied Math, GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

  Publisher contact information for the European Physical Journal B is: Springer, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.

  Keywords: Geometry, Mathematics, Physics, Statistical Mechanics, Australian National University.

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Mathematics editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, VerticalNews Mathematics via VerticalNews.com.