Yuki Koyano - Kobe University, Japan
Biography
Title: Self-propelled motion of camphor on a water surface interacting with system boundaries
Abstract: To achieve the goal directed behaviour, self-propelled objects that perceive the surrounding environment and have a protocol to determine where to move next can be a candidate system. A camphor particle, a sublimable solid substance, on a water surface is one of the simple examples of such a system. When a camphor particle is put on the water surface, it releases the camphor molecules on a water surface. Since the camphor molecules change the surface tension of the water surface, the camphor particle can move in a direction with higher surface tension. Since the time development of the camphor concentration field is affected by the water surface boundaries, the camphor particle "feels" the system boundaries through the camphor concentration field, and changes its direction of motion. Furthermore, a camphor particle can push or pull floating objects on the water surface. In my talk, I would like to introduce two topics: a camphor particle motion confined in certain boundaries and the behaviour of a camphor particle that can open and close a gate on the water surface.
