Grains in Motion: From Surface Growth to Active Matter

Granular materials provide a simple yet rich platform for exploring nonequilibrium physics. In this talk, I will discuss experiments spanning two themes: surface growth and mechanically active granular systems.

I will first explore how particle deposition and rearrangement lead to the evolution of granular surfaces and their characteristic structures. I will then turn to vibrated granular systems, focusing on the dynamics of granular chains and self-propelled granular objects on vibrating plates. I will discuss how their motion is shaped by interactions with obstacles, holes, boundaries, and confinement.

Together, these systems illustrate how simple ingredients—particle interactions, friction, geometry, and external driving—can produce surprisingly rich dynamics, providing accessible experimental platforms for studying nonequilibrium and soft-matter physics.