Acoustic detection potential of single particles in viscous liquids

Abstract

An ionizing particle passing through a liquid generates acoustic signals via local heat deposition. We delve into modeling such acoustic signals in the case of a single particle that interacts with the liquid electromagnetically in a generic way. We present a systematic way of introducing corrections due to viscosity using a perturbative approach so that our solution is valid at large distances from the interaction point. A computational simulation framework to perform the calculations described is also provided. The methodology developed is then applied to predict the acoustic signal of relativistic muons in various liquids as a toy model.