  We study a 1-D granular gas of point-like 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.
