On detection and annihilation of spherical virus embedded in a fluid matrix at low and moderate Reynolds number

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how low and moderate Reynolds numbers affect the vibrational modes of spherical viruses in water, providing insights for virus detection and destruction via acoustic methods.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical fluid dynamic approach to study virus vibrational modes considering size effects and damping at different Reynolds numbers.

Findings

Vibrational modes depend on virus size and fluid dynamics.

Damping time varies with Reynolds number, peaking at a critical Re.

Identifies Re ranges optimal for acoustic virus detection or annihilation.

Abstract

Effect of high and low Reynolds number is studied on low frequency vibrational modes of a spherical virus embedded in the aqueous medium. We have used an analytical approach based on fluid dynamic and classical Lamb theory to calculate the vibrational modes of a virus with material parameters of lysozyme crystal in water. The obvious size effect on the vibrational modes is observed. The estimated damping time which is of the order of picosecond varies with Reynolds number and shows a high value for a critical Reynolds number. The stationary eigenfrequency regions are observed for every quantum number l and n suggesting the most probable Re ranges for acoustic treatment of viruses in order to detect or annihilate the virus using corresponding viruswater configuration.