Phase transitions in the granular hard hexagon model

Abstract

We studied granular matter by looking at a two-dimensional hard hexagon model with added granular constraints. In the equilibrium model, we proved the existence of a phase transition by using Peierls' argument, with an ordered phase at high densities, and provided a numerical argument for a disordered phase at low densities. We also studied the non-equilibrium granular hexagon model numerically, and found the system highly sensitive to the parameters describing gravity and friction.