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Sound can now be structured in three dimensions. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the University of Stuttgart have found a way of generating acoustic holograms, which could improve ultrasound diagnostics and material testing. The holograms can also be used to move and manipulate particles.
Peer Fischer, a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and Professor at the University of Stuttgart, normally works on micro- and nanorobots. His lab also develops the nanofabrication methods that are needed to develop such tiny swimmers. Holography was not one of his core interests. "However, we were looking for a way to move large numbers of microparticles simultaneously so that we could assemble them into larger more complex structures," explains Fischer. His research team has now found such a method with acoustic holography, and it reports the first acoustic hologram in this week's issue of Nature. The method promises a number of applications in addition to particle manipulation.
Journal Reference: Kai Melde, Andrew G. Mark, Tian Qiu, Peer Fischer. Holograms for acoustics. Nature, 2016; 537 (7621): 518 DOI: 10.1038/nature19755
The article has an image of a Picasso peace dove created with an acoustic hologram.
(Score: 2) by quietus on Saturday September 24 2016, @03:41PM
The only step missing here is a way to rapidly and dynamically create the [plastic] relief plate necessary. Perhaps this could be done with a material which rapidly, and at a high resolution, reacts to heating?
Add an additional glass of water with some micro-particles dust strewn in, and presto: a blue-and-[colour of your choosing] Princess Leia -- amazing.