Application of mass micromanipulations to submillimeter-scale particles in multiple containers on a laterally oscillated stage

The present study proposes a simple mass-micromanipulation method for tiny particles by expanding our previous finding that submillimeter-scale particles scattered at the bottom of a water-filled rectangular container align at specific positions when the particles are subject to standing waves induced by lateral oscillations of the container at specific frequencies. First, this unique phenomenon (termed as the particle alignment phenomenon in the present study) was examined, focusing on the distance from the bottom of the container, oscillation amplitude, and liquid height in order to further reveal the underlying mechanism. The main findings obtained through several simulations and experiments were that the modulation of oscillation amplitude affected the behavior of particles at the bottom of the container related to the alignment precision and that the proper control of liquid height allowed the production of different particle alignment phenomena even if the same lateral oscillation was applied to the container. Additionally, using these new findings, we succeeded in forming different numbers of particle lines in multiple containers, which were set at different liquid heights, placed on an oscillation stage. Based on the results, this paper discusses possible mass micromanipulations using the particle alignment phenomenon.