Numerical test of the Edwards conjecture shows that all packings are equally probable at jamming

被引：0

作者：

Martiniani, Stefano ^{[1
]}

Schrenk, K. Julian ^{[1
]}

Ramola, Kabir ^{[2
]}

Chakraborty, Bulbul ^{[2
]}

Frenkel, Daan ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Cambridge, Dept Chem, Lensfield Rd, Cambridge CB2 1EW, England

[2] Brandeis Univ, Martin Fisher Sch Phys, Waltham, MA 02454 USA

来源：

NATURE PHYSICS | 2017年 / 13卷 / 09期

基金：

瑞士国家科学基金会; 英国工程与自然科学研究理事会; 美国国家科学基金会;

关键词：

STATISTICAL-MECHANICS;

D O I：

10.1038/NPHYS4168

中图分类号：

O4 [物理学];

学科分类号：

0702 ;

摘要：

In the late 1980s, Sam Edwards proposed a possible statistical-mechanical framework to describe the properties of disordered granular materials(1). A key assumption underlying the theory was that all jammed packings are equally likely. In the intervening years it has never been possible to test this bold hypothesis directly. Here we present simulations that provide direct evidence that at the unjamming point, all packings of soft repulsive particles are equally likely, even though generically, jammed packings are not. Typically, jammed granular systems are observed precisely at the unjamming point since grains are not very compressible. Our results therefore support Edwards' original conjecture. We also present evidence that at unjamming the configurational entropy of the system is maximal.

引用

页码：848 / +

页数：6