Simulation of detection and scattering of sound waves by the lateral line of a fish

Abstract

A solvable model of lateral line of a fish based on a wave equation with additional boundary conditions on a set of isolated points is proposed. Within the framework of this model it is shown that the ratio of pressures on lateral lines on different fish flanks, as well as the cross section of sound scattering on both the lines, strongly depends on angles of incidence of incoming sound waves. The strong angular dependence of the pressure ratio seems to be sufficient for the fish to determine the directions from which the sound is coming.