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    Capillary wells for microparticle manipulation

    Gopal Verma1,2,* and Wei Li1,†

    • 1GPL Photonics Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Luminescence Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 130033, China
    • 2Gopal Photonics Research Laboratory (GPRL), Parari Mishra, Amari Bazar, Basti (U.P.) 272155, India

    • *Contact author: gopal@gprl.org.in
    • †Contact author: weili1@ciomp.ac.cn

    Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 023903 – Published 19 February, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/9x3k-t2kj

    Abstract

    The manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles at fluid interfaces is central to optofluidics, microfluidics, and colloidal assembly. While capillarity-driven migration and ordering are well established, achieving stable and reconfigurable particle trapping remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate that a neck-shaped meniscus formed around a vertically actuated rod acts as a dynamically tunable capillary well, enabling reversible particle confinement, directed migration, and release. Furthermore, elliptical rods create anisotropic meniscus curvature that guides particles toward regions of higher curvature; we identify an optimal aspect ratio of the rod cross-section that maximizes trapping efficiency. Experiments supported by simulations confirm the predicted critical meniscus height and quasistationary regime velocity. These findings establish a geometry-controlled, field-free strategy for robust and reconfigurable particle manipulation at fluid interfaces, extending the principles of curvature-guided assembly.

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Corrections

    5 March, 2026

    Correction: The second affiliation contained a typographical error and has been fixed.

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