Cahn-Hilliard Theory for Unstable Granular Flows

A Cahn-Hilliard-type theory for hydrodynamic fluctuations is proposed that gives a quantitative description of the slowly evolving spatial correlations and structures in density and flow fields in the early stages of evolution of freely cooling granular fluids. Two mechanisms for pattern selection and structure formation are identified: unstable modes leading to density clustering (compare spinodal decomposition), and selective noise reduction (compare peneplanation in structural geology) leading to vortex structures. As time increases, the structure factor for the density field develops a maximum, which shifts to smaller wave numbers. This corresponds to an approximately diffusively growing length scale for density clusters. The spatial velocity correlations exhibit algebraic decay $\sim r^{-d}$ on intermediate length scales. The theoretical predictions for spatial correlation functions and structure factors agree well with molecular dynamics simulations of a system of inelastic hard disks.