Michaël Baudoin (IENM)

Self radiation force acting on an acoustic source: toward acoustic quantum analogues

In 2005, Couder & Fort [1] unveiled a classical system exhibiting wave-particle duality, consisting of a self-propelling drop driven by a resonant interaction with its own wavefield. Using this system, they were able to reproduce a wealth of behaviors previously thought to belong to the quantum realm. In this presentation, we will theoretically examine the possibility of an acoustic source being propelled by its self-induced radiation force.

The acoustic radiation force is a nonlinear, time-averaged force resulting from the interaction of an acoustic field with an object. Despite extensive work on this phenomenon since the early contributions of Rayleigh, Langevin, and Brillouin, the expression of the acoustic radiation force has so far only been derived for a steady particle excited by an external field.

Here, we will calculate the radiation force exerted on a slowly translating acoustic source by its own wavefield. We will demonstrate that the symmetry-breaking induced by the Doppler effect can generate a self-radiation force, which can either slow down [2] or accelerate [3] the acoustic source depending on its nature. In the latter case, the acoustic source is hence propelled by its own wavefield. This discovery unfolds the potential for the development of acoustic quantum analogues.

References:

[1] Couder Y et al., Walking and orbiting droplets, Nature 437: 208 (2005)

[2] A. Roux, J.P. Martishang, M. Baudoin*, Self radiation force on a moving monopolar source, J. Fluid Mech. 952:
A22 (2022)

[3] J.P. Martishang, A. Roux, M. Baudoin*, Acoustic dipole surfing on its own acoustic field: toward acoustic
quantum analogues, submitted (2023)