Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: We study the dynamics of three particles in a finite interval, in which two light particles are separated by a heavy ``piston,'' with elastic collisions between particles but inelastic collisions between the light particles and the interval ends. A symmetry breaking occurs in which the piston migrates near one end of the interval and performs small-amplitude periodic oscillations on a logarithmic time scale. The properties of this dissipative limit cycle can be understood simply in terms of a effective restitution coefficient picture. Many dynamical features of the three-particle system closely resemble those of the many-body inelastic piston problem.
Source: Physical Review E
Authors: Pablo I. Hurtado, S. Redner
Language: English
Subfield: Mathematical Physics
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4247429433