Harris Lab
Advanced Physics Seminars at U. Liege, 23-25 March 2026.
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Website
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Seminar Schedule
Seminar Schedule
During the Advanced Physics Seminars, Prof. Daniel M. Harris (Brown University, USA) will give a seminar entitled "Introduction to wave-driven motion at fluid interfaces: From capillary waves to active matter" from March 23 to March 25, 2026. Abstract: Fluid interfaces host a rich variety of physical phenomena where surface tension, gravity, and hydrodynamics interact to produce complex motion. This advanced physics seminar introduces the physics of wave-driven dynamics at liquid interfaces, starting from the fundamentals of capillary statics and progressing toward modern topics in active matter.
Lecture Notes
Lecture Notes
Megan Delens defense: Multipolar capillary interactions
Megan Delens defense: Multipolar capillary interactions
La thèse est intitulée : « Multipolar capillary interactions: Self-assembly and Manipulation ».
Propulsion and interaction of wave-propelled interfacial particles | Phys. Rev. Fluids
Propulsion and interaction of wave-propelled interfacial particles | Phys. Rev. Fluids
When a floating body is internally or externally vibrated, its self-generated wavefield can lead to steady propulsion along the interface. In this article, we review several related and recently discovered systems that leverage this propulsion mechanism and interact hydrodynamically with one another via these surface waves. These accessible, tunable, and visually appealing systems motivate future investigations into a number of outstanding questions in fundamental fluid mechanics, while potentially also informing advances in the fields of active matter, hydrodynamic quantum analogs, and robotics.
Video: Capillary Surfers
Video: Capillary Surfers
MIT OCW: 18.357 Interfacial Phenomena
MIT OCW: 18.357 Interfacial Phenomena
Day 1: Capillary Statics
18.357 Interfacial Phenomena, Lecture 5
18.357 Interfacial Phenomena, Lecture 5
This resource contains information regarding lecture 5.
3D-printed spines for programmable liquid topographies and micromanipulation | Nature Communications
3D-printed spines for programmable liquid topographies and micromanipulation | Nature Communications
Controlling the movement of floating objects at small scales is essential for microfluidics, but traditional methods are limited by fluid and object properties. By shaping liquid interfaces with 3D-printed spines, the study enables programmable manipulation of floating particles for applications like sorting and cleaning.
Floating Versus Sinking | Annual Reviews
Floating Versus Sinking | Annual Reviews
Small objects that are more dense than water may still float at the air-water interface because of surface tension. Whether this is possible depends not only on the density and size of the object, but also on its shape and surface properties, whether other objects are nearby, and how gently the object is placed at the interface. This review surveys recent work to quantify when objects can float and when they must sink. Much interest in this area has been driven by studies of the adaptations of water-walking insects to life at interfaces. I therefore discuss these results in the context of this and other applications.
Direct Measurement of Capillary Attraction between Floating Disks | Phys. Rev. Lett.
Direct Measurement of Capillary Attraction between Floating Disks | Phys. Rev. Lett.
By measuring the forces that cause floating objects to drift toward each other, researchers hope to better understand the interactions that cause particles to self-assemble in fluids.
Surface tension force on a partly submerged body | Physics of Fluids | AIP Publishing
Surface tension force on a partly submerged body | Physics of Fluids | AIP Publishing
The “Cheerios effect”
The “Cheerios effect”
Day 2: Capillary Waves
18.357 Interfacial Phenomena, Lecture 19
18.357 Interfacial Phenomena, Lecture 19
This resource contains information regarding lecture 19.
Radiation stresses in water waves; a physical discussion, with applications - ScienceDirect
Radiation stresses in water waves; a physical discussion, with applications - ScienceDirect
The radiation stresses in water waves play an important role in a variety of oceanographic phenomena, for example in the change in mean sea level due …
Capillary surfers: wave-driven particles at a vibrating fluid interface
Capillary surfers: wave-driven particles at a vibrating fluid interface
A small solid particle resting atop a vibrating fluid interface generates a field of outwardly propagating capillary waves due to its relative vertical motion. In this paper, we show that if the particle's symmetry is broken, the resultant unbalanced wave stresses enable steady self-propulsion along the interface. Such ``capillary surfers'' interact with each other hydrodynamically at long range via their mutual wavefield and form a number of dynamic bound states. This new active system bridges the gap between dissipation- and inertia-dominated regimes and promises a number of novel collective behaviors.
Capillary interactions between dynamically forced particles adsorbed at a planar interface and on a bubble | Journal of Fluid Mechanics | Cambridge Core
Capillary interactions between dynamically forced particles adsorbed at a planar interface and on a bubble | Journal of Fluid Mechanics | Cambridge Core
Capillary interactions between dynamically forced particles adsorbed at a planar interface and on a bubble - Volume 847
Theoretical modeling of capillary surfer interactions on a vibrating fluid bath | Phys. Rev. Fluids
Theoretical modeling of capillary surfer interactions on a vibrating fluid bath | Phys. Rev. Fluids
``Capillary surfers'' are small objects that self-propel while floating at the interface of a vibrating fluid bath. In this paper, we construct and analyze a theoretical model for the waves generated by such surfers and thus the hydrodynamic forces exerted by one surfer on another. Our model recovers the dynamical modes of surfer pairs found in experiments, and predicts that surfer collectives may lock into a variety of quantized bound states. Generally, our work shows that capillary surfers are a promising platform for studying wave-coupled active matter.
Stokes’ dream: Measurement of fluid viscosity from the attenuation of capillary waves
Stokes’ dream: Measurement of fluid viscosity from the attenuation of capillary waves
Day 3: Visualization and Propulsion
Measuring the two-dimensional structure of a wavy water surface optically: A surface gradient detector | Experiments in Fluids | Springer Nature Link
Measuring the two-dimensional structure of a wavy water surface optically: A surface gradient detector | Experiments in Fluids | Springer Nature Link
A new method of measuring the slopes of a water surface covered with short waves is developed. A camera is placed far above the water surface looking downw
Meniscope: A Low-Cost Fluid Interface Visualizer
Meniscope: A Low-Cost Fluid Interface Visualizer
In this work, we describe the development and application of a low-cost fluid interface visualizer referred to as the ``Meniscope.'' The device works using a color-based surface gradient detector method that maps the gradient of an air-water interface to a specific color on a target pattern below using a converging lens. Sample experiments are outlined that showcase the working principle and functional versatility of the device. The device and assembly instructions were piloted in a hands-on workshop, with pertinent feedback reviewed herein. The Meniscope is a low-cost device that is capable of producing striking visualizations of static and dynamic free-surface deformations while introducing users to free-surface measurement techniques in an accessible and hands-on manner.
The mean forces exerted by waves on floating or submerged bodies with applications to sand bars and wave power machines | Proceedings A | The Royal Society
The mean forces exerted by waves on floating or submerged bodies with applications to sand bars and wave power machines | Proceedings A | The Royal Society
Abstract. Water waves transport both energy and momentum, and any solid body which absorbs or reflects wave energy must absorb or reflect horizontal moment
SurferBot: a wave-propelled aquatic vibrobot
SurferBot: a wave-propelled aquatic vibrobot
Video: SurferBot
Video: SurferBot
"SurferBot: a wave-propelled aquatic vibrobotEugene Rhee, Brown UniversityRobert Hunt, Brown UniversityStuart J. Thomson, University of BristolDaniel M. Harr...
Workshop Instructions
Meniscope: Fluid Interface Visualizer : 20 Steps - Instructables
Meniscope: Fluid Interface Visualizer : 20 Steps - Instructables
Meniscope: Fluid Interface Visualizer: The concept behind this demonstration device is based off of the idea presented in the article "Measuring the two-dimensional structure of a wavy water surface optically: A surface gradient detector" by Zhang and Cox, Experiments in Fluids, 1994. A …
SurferBot V2: Switched Version : 9 Steps - Instructables
SurferBot V2: Switched Version : 9 Steps - Instructables
SurferBot V2: Switched Version: Inspired by a survival mechanism initiated by the honeybee trapped on the surface of the water, the SurferBot is a small robot that self-propels on the fluid surface. This low-cost and easily assembled devices is created by combining a coin cell bat…
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