Hydrodynamic quantum analogues: droplets walking on the impossible pilot wave

Matthew Durey

Yuval Dagan

Bauyrzhan K. Primkulov, Davis J. Evans, Joel B. Been +1 more

Pilot-wave hydrodynamics concerns the dynamics of droplets walking on a vibrating liquid bath, and forms the basis for the field of hydrodynamic quantum analogs. We here investigate a theoretical model that captures both vertical and horizontal drop dynamics. The model provides new rationale for a number of phenomena, including colinear swaying, intermittent walking, and chaotic speed oscillations, all of which are linked to variability in the droplet's impact phase. Our study also highlights the degeneracy in the droplet's vertical dynamics, consideration of which is essential for understanding the dynamics of droplets in confined geometries and interacting with standing Faraday waves.

John W. M. Bush, Konstantinos Papatryfonos, Valeri Frumkin

R. Eisenschitz

Medina Machuca, Rodolfo Miguel

A millimeter-sized droplet may propel itself along the surface of a vibrating fluid through interaction with its own guiding or 'pilot' wave field. By virtue of the peculiarities of the resulting pilot-wave dynamics, this hydrodynamic system exhibits features which were previously thought to be exclusive to the microscopic, quantum realm. The plan of this work is to perform experiments and theory that will help to understand these hydrodynamic quantum analogs.