Acoustic parametric pumping for precise control in a multi-particle system with tunable interactions

Systems of several particles serve as basic models of complex phenomena, from the entanglement of qubits to nucleation that initiates crystallization and reactions between biological macromolecules. However, even with tunable interactions, direct manipulation of individual particles into different structures requires careful and dedicated experimental design. The precise control of such a system becomes even more challenging when its interactions are strongly correlated, nonlinear, non-pairwise additive, and non-conservative. Here, we introduce a general method combining parametric pumping and quenching to non-invasively control the configuration of such a multi-particle system and demonstrate it with an acoustically levitated small cluster of particles. By modulating the sound power in the acoustic trap, we pump energy into a vibrational mode of undesirable states beyond its basin of stability while leaving the preferred state unaffected, thus directing the transition between states. Our findings from experiments and numerical simulations provide a path towards non-contact precise control within multi-particle systems, pushing the boundaries of precise manipulation and directed self-assembly.