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Guiding sound waves through a maze

A team of researchers from TU Wien has successfully guided sound waves through an air-filled tube containing irregular obstacles using their wave manipulation concept. By precisely controlling loudspeakers along the tube, they were able to counteract complex dispersal and enable the sound wave to pass with minimal restriction.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 3, 2018

Dielectric metamaterial is dynamically tuned by light

The new technology can control electromagnetic waves in many different ways by adjusting the size and angle of tiny silicon cylinders within a grid structure. This allows for subwavelength control, faster reconfiguration, and potentially improved security scanners and visual displays.

SourceDuke University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 1, 2018

A spinning top of light

Physicists develop new method to precisely characterise extremely short light pulses, allowing for detailed information about electron place of origin in novel materials. This enables study of superconductors and topological materials, crucial for quantum computing and energy-efficient processors.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 1, 2018

Building blocks to create metamaterials

Researchers at Caltech and ETH Zürich created a systematic design method for metamaterials using quantum mechanics. They can engineer materials to manipulate incoming waves, such as bending light or reflecting sound waves. This breakthrough could lead to widespread use of metamaterials in various applications.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 17, 2018

When it comes to antennas, size matters

Researchers have developed a new approach to designing antennas that can construct devices with antennas up to 1,000 times smaller than current ones. This technology enables the creation of miniaturized antennas for cell phones and other wireless communication devices, opening up new possibilities in the biomedical field.

SourceNortheastern University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 29, 2017

Physicists design ultrafocused pulses

Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have developed a method to generate ultra-focused electromagnetic fields, enabling precise devices for microscopy and other applications. The new scheme utilizes a cylinder reflecting electromagnetic waves to create focused pulses with adjustable frequency.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 27, 2017

3-D printers open new design space for wireless devices

Duke researchers have created 3D-printed electromagnetic metamaterials with potential to revolutionize the design and prototyping of radio frequency applications. The use of a highly conductive material, Electrifi, enables rapid construction of complex devices and accelerates the design process.

SourceDuke University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMay 4, 2017

Wave of the future: Terahertz chips a new way of seeing through matter

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new terahertz chip technology that can generate and capture intricate details of terahertz waves. The system uses tiny devices inside the microchip to read patterns created by the waves, enabling potential applications in medical imaging, communications, and drug development.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalIEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits·DateFeb 9, 2017

Absorbing electromagnetic energy while avoiding the heat

Electrical engineers at Duke University have created a metal-free metamaterial that can absorb electromagnetic energy, opening doors for applications in imaging, sensing, and lighting. The device's ability to absorb energy without heating up has direct implications for thermal imaging devices and efficient lighting systems.

SourceDuke University·JournalOptics Express·DateJan 27, 2017

Lego-like wall produces acoustic holograms

Researchers at Duke University have developed a simple, energy-efficient way to create three-dimensional acoustic holograms using Lego-like metamaterials. The technique manipulates sound waves into desired patterns, enabling applications such as improving sound quality in speakers and creating realistic ultrasound images.

SourceDuke University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 14, 2016

The exception and its rules

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and colleagues around the world have discovered exceptional points in wave physics, where complex frequencies emerge. By steering a system around these points, they have observed surprising effects, including asymmetric mode switching.

A mathematical advance in describing waves

Mathematicians Gino Biondini and Dionyssios Mantzavinos develop a new mathematical model describing wave patterns with small irregularities. Their research shows that many disturbances evolve into single-class wave forms, answering a question scientists have been trying to answer for 50 years.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 24, 2016