Electroacoustic phenomena arise when ultrasound propagates through a fluid containing ions. The associated particle motion generates electric signals because ions have electric charge. This coupling between ultrasound and electric field is called electroacoustic phenomena. The fluid might be a simple Newtonian liquid, or complex heterogeneous dispersion, emulsion or even a porous body. There are several different electroacoustic effects depending on the nature of the fluid.
*Ion vibration current (IVI) and potential, an electric signal that arises when an acoustic wave propagates through a homogeneous fluid.
*Streaming vibration current (SVI) and potential, an electric signal that arises when an acoustic wave propagates through a porous body in which the pores are filled with fluid.
*Colloid vibration current (CVI) and potential, an electric signal that arises when ultrasound propagates through a heterogeneous fluid, such as a dispersion or emulsion.
*Electric sonic amplitude (ESA), the inverse of the CVI effect, in which an acoustic field arises when an electric field propagates through a heterogeneous fluid.