A review of the theoretical modeling of walking droplets: Toward a generalized pilot-wave framework

Abstract

The walking droplet system has extended the range of classical systems to include several features previously thought to be exclusive to quantum systems. We review the hierarchy of analytic models that have been developed, on the basis of various simplifying assumptions, to describe droplets walking on a vibrating fluid bath. Particular attention is given to detailing their successes and failures in various settings. Finally, we present a theoretical model that may be adopted to explore a more generalized pilot-wave framework capable of further extending the phenomenological range of classical pilot-wave systems beyond that achievable in the laboratory.