Turbulent route to two-dimensional soft crystals

We investigate the effect of a two-dimensional, incompressible, turbulent flow on soft granular particles and show the emergence of a crystalline phase due to the interplay of Stokesian drag and short-range interparticle interactions. We quantify this phase through the bond order parameter and local density fluctuations and find a sharp transition between the crystalline and noncrystalline phases as a function of the Stokes number. Furthermore, the nature of preferential concentration, characterized by the correlation dimension, is significantly different from that of particle-laden flows in the absence of repulsive potentials.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of a two-dimensional, incompressible, turbulent flow on soft granular particles, revealing the emergence of a crystalline phase resulting from the interplay between Stokesian drag and short-range interparticle interactions. The crystalline phase and noncrystalline phase exhibit a sharp transition dependent on the Stokes number, as quantified by the bond order parameter and local density fluctuations. Moreover, the nature of preferential concentration, as characterized by the correlation dimension, differs significantly from that observed in particle-laden flows without repulsive potentials.