Thermal segregation of intruders in the Fourier state of a granular gas

Abstract: A low density binary mixture of granular gases is considered within the Boltzmann kinetic theory. One component, the intruders, is taken to be dilute with respect to the other, and thermal segregation of the two species is described for a special exact solution to the Boltzmann equation. This solution has a macroscopic hydrodynamic representation with a constant temperature gradient and is referred to as the Fourier state. The thermal diffusion factor characterizing conditions for segregation is calculated without the usual restriction to Navier-Stokes hydrodynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations are reported for comparison with the results for this idealized Fourier state.