Daniels Nonlinear Lab

Statistical Physics

With their ability to act as solids, liquids, or gases, the behavior of granular materials begs analogy with much of what we first learned about conventional molecules, but there are imporant differences. For example, the image at right shows a phenomenon known as "force chains". Forces are not carried uniformly in the material, but instead through long chain-like strucutres whose density and orientation depend on the state and history of the sample. We are able to visualize these forces using a photoelastic disks and a polariscope.

Research projects in the group address visualizing sound wave propagation, effects of order and anisotropy on material properties, phase transitions, and developing and testing statistical mechanical models.

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