Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Induction of Microstreaming by Nonspherical Bubble Oscillations in an Acoustic Levitation System
Published on: May 9, 2021
Laser-based excitation of nonlinear solitary waves in a chain of particles
Xianglei Ni1, Piervincenzo Rizzo, Chiara Daraio
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
Abstract:
Highly nonlinear solitary waves (HNSWs) are stress waves that can form and travel in highly nonlinear systems. They are characterized by a constant spatial wavelength and by a tunable propagation speed, dependent on the wave amplitude. Conventionally, HNSW's are generated in one-dimensional chains of spherical particles by means of a mechanical impact. In this paper, we demonstrate that short-duration laser pulses can be used to generate HNSW's, and we characterize their propagating properties in terms of shape, speed, and duration. We compare the waves' characteristics with theoretical predictions, finding excellent agreement. In addition a simplified formulation is given to estimate the dynamic contact force generated by laser pulses onto the chain.
Related Concept Videos
The de Broglie Wavelength
Standing Waves in a Cavity
Propagation of Waves
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...

