COMPACTION OF GRANULAR MATTER: A SHORT REVIEW, AND THE RANDOM TETRIS MODEL

Abstract

We present a short review of experimental and theoretical aspects of granular compaction, and we discuss in more details the behaviour of the so-called Random Tetris Model, a model of particles diffusing on a lattice, subject to gravity and geometrical constraints. We show how this model reproduces the experimental phenomenology, e.g. slow relaxation, irreversible/reversible cycles, memory effects. The study of the density profiles allows to interpret these results.