Project description
Exploring the quantum-like features of walking droplets
Recent groundbreaking research revealed that a millimetric droplet sustained on the surface of a vibrating fluid bath may self-propel through a resonant interaction with its own wave field. Experimental evidence has also indicated that the walking droplets exhibit certain features previously thought to be exclusive to the quantum realm. The EU-funded EnHydro project is assessing the potential and limitations of this hydrodynamic system as a quantum analogue. The fluid system is compared to quantum pilot-wave theories and other quantum mechanics theories. The novelty of the research is that it will extend the range of possible behaviours of classical systems. It will demonstrate how two otherwise non-interacting droplets communicate through standing wave fields with the aim of demonstrating a hydrodynamic analog of quantum entanglement, a phenomenon considered to distinguish quantum mechanics from classical physics.
Objective
A series of ground-braking experiments performed at 2005 showed that millimetric liquid drops can self-propel along the surface of a vibrating fluid bath, by virtue of a resonant interaction with their own wave field. Even more, they demonstrated a version of the famous single-particle diffraction experiment, where one droplet at a time passed through a single or a double slit. The resulting statistical behaviour for successive drops revealed the emergence of wavelike diffraction (single slit) and interference patterns (double slit), a feature previously thought to be exclusive to the microscopic quantum realm. Following investigations established hydrodynamic analogs of many more quantum phenomena with this system, including tunneling, quantized orbits, orbital level splitting, spin states, and more. As of yet, an analog of quantum entanglement remains elusive, but very recent results pave the way in that direction. EnHydro aims to establish entanglement measures in pilot-wave hydrodynamics through experiments with droplets confined to separate wells and their theoretical rationalization. Experiments to test Bell’s inequalities in this particle-wave-particle system are envisioned as well. Furthermore, physical analogies with quantum entanglement and with theories proposed to rationalize quantum phenomena at the atomic level will be investigated. The originality of this project also lies in its multidisciplinary character and the complementarity of two world-leading research groups in interrelating approaches. It combines a major experimental component using the state-of-the-art set-up available at MIT, with pioneering mathematical algorithms recently developed at ESPCI. The novelty of the proposed research is that it will extend the range of behaviours accessible to classical systems. It will demonstrate how two (otherwise) non-interacting particles (droplets) can communicate through fields of standing waves, which is an extremely novel communication protocol.
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Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
75794 Paris
France