Clustering and fluidization in a one-dimensional granular system: molecular dynamics and direct-simulation Monte Carlo method.

We study a one-dimensional granular gas of pointlike particles not subject to gravity between two walls at temperatures T(left) and T(right). The system exhibits two distinct regimes, depending on the normalized temperature difference Delta=(T(right)-T(left))/(T(right)+T(left)): one completely fluidized and one in which a cluster coexists with the fluidized gas. When Delta is above a certain threshold, cluster formation is fully inhibited, obtaining a completely fluidized state. The mechanism that produces these two phases is explained. In the fluidized state the velocity distribution function exhibits peculiar non-Gaussian features. For this state, comparison between integration of the Boltzmann equation using the direct-simulation Monte Carlo method and results stemming from microscopic Newtonian molecular dynamics gives good coincidence, establishing that the non-Gaussian features observed do not arise from the onset of correlations.