Acoustofluidics: theory and simulation of radiation forces at ultrasound resonances in microfluidic devices

Theoretical analysis is combined with numerical simulations to optimize designs and functionalities of acoustofluidic devices, i.e. microfluidic devices in which ultrasound waves are used to anipulate biological particles. The resonance frequencies and corresponding modes of the acoustic fields are calculated for various specific geometries of glass/silicon chips containing water-filled microchannels.

A special emphasis is put on taking the surrounding glass/silicon material into account, thus going beyond the traditional transverse half-wavelength picture. For the resonance frequencies, where the largest possible acoustic powers are obtained in the microfluidic system, the time-averaged acoustic radiation force on single particles is determined.

Schemes for in situ calibration of this force are presented and discussed.