Fast Microscale Acoustic Streaming Driven by a Temperature-Gradient-Induced Nondissipative Acoustic Body Force

We study acoustic streaming in liquids driven by a nondissipative acoustic body force created by light-induced temperature gradients. This thermoacoustic streaming produces a velocity amplitude nearly 100 times higher than the boundary-driven Rayleigh streaming and the Rayleigh-Benard convection at a temperature gradient of 10 K/mm in the channel. The Rayleigh streaming is altered by the acoustic body force at a temperature gradient of only 0.5 K/mm. The thermoacoustic streaming allows for modular flow control and enhanced heat transfer at the microscale. Our study provides the groundwork for studying microscale acoustic streaming coupled with temperature fields.

Automated summary

The study reveals that using a non-dissipative acoustic body force created by light-induced temperature gradients significantly increases the velocity of acoustic streaming in liquids, outperforming traditional Rayleigh streaming and Rayleigh-Benard convection. This thermoacoustic streaming has the potential to enhance heat transfer efficiency at the microscale.