Controlling the temperature of one-dimensional systems composed of elastic and inelastic particles

We have studied systems composed of either elastic or inelastic particles constrained to move in one dimension and confined on a line by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques. We have tested several ways of modeling a boundary that exchanges energy with the system. Furthermore, we have studied one-dimensional granular systems composed of soft particles under cooling and found that the decay in temperature follows a power law T proportional to t(-alpha) similar to the case of rigid particles, but now, the value of alpha depends on the density and degree of inelasticity in the system. For systems composed of inelastic particles thermostated by one of the boundaries we find that the "extraordinary" state reported by Y. Du, H. Li, and L. P. Kadanoff [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 1268 (1995)] is an artifact introduced by method of providing energy to the system. [S1063-651X(98)05202-7].