Segregation of polydisperse granular media in the presence of a temperature gradient

Abstract

Granular media are examined with the focus on polydisperse mixtures in the presence of two localized heat-baths. If the two driving energies are similar, the large particles prefer to stay in the `cold' regions of the system -- as far away from the energy source as possible. If one of the temperatures is larger than the other, the cold region is shifted towards the colder reservoir; if the temperature of one source is much higher, a strong, almost constant temperature gradient builds up between the two reservoirs and the large particles are found close to the cold reservoir. Furthermore, clustering is observed between the heat reservoirs, if dissipation is strong enough.