An Experimentally Validated Multi-Physics Simulation of Microwave-Induced Thermoacoustics under Microwave Heating

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging is a promising method for monitoring microwave ablation in real-time. We investigate the impact of a dynamic temperature environment on thermacoustic signal characteristics. First, we experimentally validate the simulation model using spatially uniform temperature profiles. Then, we investigate the evolution of TA signal characteristics within the spatially nonuniform temperature profiles that arise during microwave heating. We find that thermoacoustic signal characteristics are highly temperature-dependent and thus change significantly within an environment where temperature varies through space and time.