![\"Pedro](\"https:\/\/college.unc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1280\/2025\/10\/saenz-hero.avif\")
Photo by Megan Mendenhall\/UNC Research Stories<\/p>\nPedro S\u00e1enz\u2019s lab is making waves with math, using the behavior of fluids to improve our understanding of quantum particles.<\/p>\n
Photo by Megan Mendenhall\/UNC Research Stories<\/p>\n
UNC Research Stories sat down with\u00a0Pedro S\u00e1enz<\/a>, associate professor in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences\u2019 math department, to learn more about his work at the\u00a0Physical Mathematics Lab<\/a>\u00a0and why student research experiences matter.<\/p>\n Q: What\u2019s the main goal of your research?<\/p>\n A: We study seemingly simple systems \u2014 like a dish of liquid on a vibrating table \u2014 to uncover complex behaviors that reflect some of nature\u2019s biggest mysteries. It\u2019s about finding big ideas hiding in systems that at first seem almost trivial.<\/p>\n Q: What projects are you working on now?<\/p>\n A: My team studies how tiny droplets \u201cwalk\u201d across the surface by bouncing and creating waves that push them forward. These droplets behave in ways that resemble quantum particles \u2014 the fundamental building blocks of matter and energy, such as electrons and photons. This gives us a new way to explore the strange and fascinating world of quantum physics, but in a system we can actually see and measure. Our main focus is how these \u201cwalking droplets\u201d mimic quantum behaviors like tunneling and interference.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve also discovered \u201cgalloping bubbles<\/a>\u201d that move in unexpected ways. Even though the mechanism is different from that of walking droplets, many of the underlying principles are the same. With this new way of making bubbles motile, we\u2019re starting to explore potential engineering applications.<\/p>\n Q: What are the biggest challenges in your research?<\/p>\n A: We\u2019re often exploring phenomena that haven\u2019t been studied before, so there\u2019s no clear roadmap. We keep our setups simple and take small, logical steps to uncover the physics. We also approach problems from every angle \u2014 experiments, simulations and theory \u2014 which takes time but leads to deeper understanding.<\/p>\n Q: What\u2019s the most surprising discovery your team has made recently?<\/p>\n