Scientists make waves with sonic tractor beam

     The device is the focus of research published Oct. 27 in the journal Nature Communications and was led by Asier Marzo, a doctoral student at Public University of Navarre in Spain. Here are the details:

    The research: “Holographic Acoustic Elements for Manipulation of Levitated Objects.”   Along with Marzo, researchers from England’s University of Bristol and University of Sussex took part.

    How it uses sound: Think about the last time you were at a loud concert. At some point, you could feel the vibration, Marzo explained, in a video produced by Nature (above). Sound is a mechanical wave. This research takes advantage of this force by manipulating ultrasonic sound waves.

    The device:  A square approximately the size of Marzo’s hand, it is made up of eight rows of tiny, round loudspeakers. Wires connect it to a computer, which controls the sound necessary to levitate particles.

    Has this been done before?  In the interview, Marzo points out that for three decades, acoustics have been used to levitate particles. 
    From time to time, scientists make headlines with research in which they use acoustic levitation. This most recent research involves a device that needs only one side to levitate particles.  With previous acoustic levitators, “the trapped particles had to be enclosed by acoustic elements,” the research explained.

    OK, this is great for Star Trek, but can we use it in the real world? Yes, we can. “Single-beam levitation could manipulate particles inside our body for applications in targeted drug delivery or acoustically controlled micro-machines that do not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging,” the research concludes.

    Related:

    Video: Computer creates virtual universe
   

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