Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026
08:19
Induction of Microstreaming by Nonspherical Bubble Oscillations in an Acoustic Levitation System
Published on: May 9, 2021
2.7K
Nonreciprocity and multibody interactions in acoustically levitated particle systems: A three-body problem
Brady Wu1,2, Qinghao Mao1,2, Bryan VanSaders2
1University of Chicago, Department of Physics, 929 E 57th St, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Physical Review. E
|October 21, 2025
Summary
Three identical spheres acoustically levitated in air exhibit novel dynamics due to spontaneous nonreciprocal multibody interactions. This acoustic system demonstrates emergent activity and self-organization, powered by redirected sound energy.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Acoustics
- Nonlinear Dynamics
Background:
- Pairwise nonreciprocal interactions drive nonequilibrium collective phenomena.
- Multibody interactions can spontaneously break reciprocity, leading to emergent nonreciprocity.
- Acoustic levitation offers a platform to study complex particle interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate emergent nonreciprocal multibody interactions in a minimal system.
- To investigate novel dynamical states driven by acoustic forces.
- To explore the interplay between wave scattering and microstreaming in self-organization.
Main Methods:
- Acoustic levitation of three identical spheres in air.
- Analysis of particle dynamics, including limit cycles and self-propulsion.
- Investigation of energy redirection from the acoustic field.
Main Results:
- Identical spheres spontaneously exhibited novel dynamical states.
- Nonreciprocal multibody interactions were induced by sound.
- Collective limit cycles and self-propulsion were observed.
- Energy redirection powered dynamics when inversion symmetry was broken.
Conclusions:
- A minimal model system for emergent activity was demonstrated.
- Multibody interactions can drive spontaneous dynamics in self-assembly.
- Acoustically driven systems offer new possibilities for self-organized structures and motion.
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