Time dependent structuring of fluid interfaces by acoustic radiation pressure

Contactless and programmable shaping of surfaces promises wide-ranging applications in the field of tunable optics and acoustics, e.g. designing exotic applications such as diodes, multiplexing or beam steering. However, most of the existing devices are constrained by mechanical actuators, limiting their capabilities in time-varying environments. This study presents an original way to remotely control the shape of a water-air interface using the acoustic radiation pressure (ARP). It investigates the spatiotemporal characteristics of the surface deformation by means of numerical simulations and an experimental approach. The study provides new insights for novel applications of the ARP for on-demand shaping of fluid interfaces.