Research

Our lab studies how macroscopic (millimeter-centimeter scale) objects move, interact, and organize themselves when coupled through a shared medium. Most of the systems we work with fit on a benchtop: millimeter-sized particles floating on a vibrating liquid bath, 3D-printed vibrots shaken on a plate. In each case, individual units convert an energy source into motion, and the medium between them (a wavefield, an elastic beam, contact forces) mediates interaction. We approach these problems through a combination of tabletop experiments, mathematical modeling, and simulation, with experiments telling us what a system does and reduced models telling us why and which ingredients are essential. A recurring theme is that these macroscopic systems serve as accessible analogs for phenomena usually studied at microscopic scales, from synchronization and self-assembly to pattern formation. Given the setups mainly using a combination of 3D-printed or laser-cut parts, the investigations can function as relatively low-cost teaching tools, which is why pedagogy sits alongside the fundamental physics as a research direction of its own. A list of publications, classified by the three themes below, is available on the Publications tab. Check them out!

The current lab guidelines and expectations can be found here.