Diffusing-wave spectroscopy study of microscopic dynamics of three-dimensional granular systems

Abstract

Probing micron-scale dynamics is important in understanding the dynamic property of granular systems. Diffusing-wave spectroscopy, which makes use of multiply scattered light in a highly dense solution of small particles, has been used successfully to study various fluidized-granular systems, such as; channel flow, gas-fluidized beds, avalanche flow, and vibro-fluidized beds. This paper summarizes this method and the existing findings, which include the dynamic behaviour on a short time scale and jamming transition on a long time scale. In addition, the analogy between the jamming transition of granular systems and the glass transition of traditional liquid/solid systems is discussed.