Fast microscale acoustic streaming driven by a temperature-gradient-induced non-dissipative acoustic body force

Abstract

We study acoustic streaming in liquids driven by a non-dissipative acoustic body force created by light-induced temperature gradients. This thermoacoustic streaming produces a velocity amplitude approximately 50 times higher than boundary-driven Rayleigh streaming and 90 times higher than Rayleigh-Benard convection at a temperature gradient of 10 K/mm in the channel. Further, 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.