Probing density waves in fluidized granular media with diffusing-wave spectroscopy

Density waves are characteristic for fluidized beds and affect measurements on liquid-like dynamics in fluidized granular media. Here, the intensity autocorrelation function as obtainable with diffusing-wave spectroscopy is derived in the presence of density waves. The predictions by the derived form of the IACF match experimental observations from a gas-fluidized bed. The model suggests separability of the contribution from density waves from the contribution by microscopic scatterer displacement to the decay of correlation, thus paves the way for characterizing microscopic particle motions using diffusing-wave spectroscopy as well as heterogeneities in fluidized granular media.