Title: Walking Droplets & Galloping Bubbles

Speaker: Pedro Saenz, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Abstract: This talk explores two distinct problems in physics and engineering, blending experiments, simulations, and theory. The first part examines walking droplets, or "walkers," which self-propel across a vibrating fluid bath through a resonant interaction with their guiding wave field. These droplets exhibit behaviors typically associated with quantum particles, such as localized motion in disordered environments, which is akin to quantum Anderson localization. The study reveals that diffusion is suppressed when the guiding wave field interacts with random topographies, driven by a resonant coupling that creates an attractive wave potential, demonstrating how a classical particle can localize like a wave. The second part introduces a new mechanism where bubbles "gallop" along horizontal surfaces in a vertically vibrated fluid chamber, powered by interactions between their shape oscillations. These active bubbles can follow diverse trajectory patterns, including rectilinear, orbital, and run-and-tumble motions, which can be controlled by external forces. Through periodic deformations and inertial forces, these bubbles achieve self-propulsion without external direction. The study presents potential applications for galloping bubbles, including bubble manipulation, transport, sorting, navigation through complex fluid networks, and surface cleaning.

Zoom: https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/93833993196

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