Sliding, vibrating and swinging droplets on an oscillating fiber*

We present an experimental study of the dynamics of water droplets on oscillating rigid fibers. As we vary the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations the droplet transitions between different modes: harmonic pumping, subharmonic pumping, a combination of rocking and pumping modes, and a combination of pumping and swinging modes. We characterize these responses and report how they affect the sliding speed of the droplet along the fiber. The swinging mode is rationalized through a minimal model making an analogy with a forced elastic pendulum.