Visualization of the energy flux in an ensonified fluid-loaded elastic sphere

<p> The energy flux in an ensonified fluid&hyphen;loaded elastic sphere is visualized by its Poynting vector field in both its instantaneous real and time&hyphen;averaged complex forms. The instantaneous Poynting vector field is shown in both freeze&hyphen;frame and animated versions. The instantaneous Poynting vector field can be used to follow the propagation of elastodynamic waves in the elastic sphere. The complex Poynting vector field, which is a time&hyphen;averaged representation of the energy flow, is shown in terms of separate real and imaginary parts. The real part of the complex Poynting vector field shows the traveling wave component of the elastodynamic wave in the ensonified sphere. The imaginary part of the complex Poynting vector field shows the standing wave part of the elastodynamic wave in the ensonified sphere. The patterns formed by the Poynting vector field, in both its instantaneous and the real and imaginary parts of the complex form, can be identified with the various modes of the ensonified sphere and used to explain the physical processes going on inside the ensonified sphere.</p>