Elaborating micro- and nanoscale heat using lasers is an emerging experimental technique to induce fluid flows and to control nanomaterial motions; this paper provides a theoretical tool to explore them. When focused lasers are irradiated to microfluidic systems, we can heat up, selectively and locally, fluids and/or solid-fluid interfaces such as thin-metal films. This localized heat generates various thermally-induced transport of fluids and dispersed objects. Considering that flow computation requires a decent amount of training cost, the easy-access instant analytical tool developed here is helpful for researchers without a fluid-mechanics background to explore complex phenomena in their own fields.
Tsuji, et al, Phys. Rev. Fluids (2024) link