Previous Oscillators and their Issues:
As mentioned earlier, if bath and oscillator system are not perfectly level (i.e., perpendicular to the forces acting along the axis of oscillation) or some external force acts upon the droplet (i.e., if someone breaths on it), the walker will not exhibit the desired behavior as, due to its minuscule size and weight, it is very sensitive to any external force. Sooooo, if the bath is directly connected to the shaker and leveling the system requires you to move the whole system, then it is very difficult to get precise results during experimentation. |
Our New System:
To improve our oscillation, we decided on a magnetic system shown on the left. Because the magnets were oriented with like poles facing each other, the magnets naturally repelled and the bath was held upright by the horizontal component of the magnetic force (Fx). In addition, the vertical component of the magnetic repulsion (Fy) was used to reduce the amount of preloaded mass on the oscillatory system, which allow the oscillator to drive more perfectly. |
The Full Design (explained more in assembly section)
One Note:
For the purposes of this project, we were more focused on trying to improve the oscillatory system than analyzing the quantum mechanical implications of this research. Even so, we needed some way to test how well our proposed system worked, so we decided to try and model quantum corralling. In essence, if tracked over time, there are specific areas the walkers are more likely to be found. Specifically, the walker is more likely to be in the center of the bath or within circular orbits around the center. |