A wave of new applications

By controlling the behaviour of sound waves, scientists have opened the door to new devices for use in sensing technologies

 

Scientists have developed a method that uses pulses of light to control the properties of sound waves, paving the way for new devices for a wide range of sensing applications, according to a study in Applied Physics Letters.

Acoustic whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) are sound waves that, due to continuous internal reflection, are confined within a cavity. Despite their use in sensing technologies and testing pipes, few studies have been undertaken to investigate how their properties can be controlled.     

Led by researchers from Hokkaido University in Japan, a team of Japanese and British scientists have used ultrafast laser acoustics to control the direction of surface-acoustic WGMs in order to measure the difference in amplitude between clockwise and counterclockwise waves, which could lead to new devices for sensing and testing technologies.

This article was first published by Springer Nature. Read the original article here.