Filamentary coagulation of heavy particles suspended in water in an ultrasonic field

Abstract

A stable formation of long thin filaments involving heavy particles (heavier than water) suspended in water in an acoustic resonator was observed. The filaments consisted of regularly spaced thin disks formed by coalescent particles. The particles in the disks were tightly packed forming almost solid structures. The disks were arranged perpendicularly to the filament axis and were spaced at half-sound-wavelength intervals. The diameter of the disks was about half-wavelength. The length of the filaments was about hundreds of the sound wavelength. Experiments were performed with particles of different natures and sizes. The filaments were not destroyed under wide variations of sound frequency, acoustic power, length of resonator, size and configuration of the mirror, or its angle of rotation. The particles suspended in water not only visualized the acoustic field but also affected its configuration. The formation of filaments was explained by a nonthermal self-focusing of sound in the resonator, which was caused by the decrease in sound velocity in the region of maximum concentration of particles due to coagulation in the inhomogeneous sound field.