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Hexagons, Kinks and Disorder in Oscillated Granular Layers

Francisco Melo, Paul Umbanhowar, Harry L. Swinney

patt-solarXiv:patt-sol/9507003

Abstract

Experiments on vertically oscillated granular layers in an evacuated container reveal a sequence of well-defined pattern bifurcations as the container acceleration is increased. Period doublings of the layer center of mass motion and a parametric wave instability interact to produce hexagons and more complicated patterns composed of distinct spatial domains of different relative phase separated by kinks (phase discontinuities). Above a critical acceleration, the layer becomes disordered in both space and time.

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