Numerical simulation of universal morphogenesis of fluid interface deformations driven by radiation pressure.

Abstract

We report on numerical simulation of fluid interface deformations induced by either acoustic or optical radiation pressure. This is done by solving simultaneously the scalar wave propagation equationand the two-phase flow equationsusing the boundary element method. Using dimensional analysis, we show that interface deformation morphogenesis is universal, i.e., depends on the same dimensionless parameters in acoustics and electromagnetics. We numerically investigate a few selected phenomena-in particular the shape of large deformations and the slenderness transition and its hysteresis-and compare with existing and novel experimental observations. Qualitative agreement between the numerical simulations and experiments is found when the mutual interaction between wave propagation and wave-induced deformations is taken into account. Our results demonstrate the leading role of the radiation pressure in morphogenesis of fluid interface deformations and the importance of the propagation-deformation interplay.