Acoustic Levitation Gets Bigger

Aug-18-16 For the first time, researchers have used acoustic levitation to levitate an object much larger than the acoustic wavelength itself.

While acoustic levitation has been well known for some time, it is typically accomplished by using a sound emitter and reflector to create a standing wave, which is then able to support an object much smaller than the acoustic field’s wavelength. To levitate larger objects—and bring the technology a bit closer to real-world applications—the team arranged a trio of ultrasonic transducers in a tripod, creating more stability.

According to Marco Andrade, one of the researchers on the project, "One of the main advantages of acoustic levitation is that it is material independent. It is possible to levitate a wide range of materials using acoustic levitation, including liquid drops, metallic objects, and other materials.”

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