Mathematicians at the University of Liverpool have found that it is possible to gain full control of sound waves which could lead to improved medical scans, for technology such as ultra sound machines.
Working in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, they tested the numerical properties of a flat lens made out of ‘meta-material’ - a material that gains its properties from its structure rather than its composition. This material is thought to defy the laws of physics, allowing objects to appear exactly as they are rather than upside down as seen in a normal convex or concave lens.
Dr Sebastien Guenneau, from Liverpool’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, explains: “We know that light can be controlled using ‘meta-material’ which can bend electromagnetic radiation around an area of space, making any object within it appear invisible. Now we have produced a mathematical model that proves this theory also works for sound.
“This theory becomes particularly interesting when considering ultrasound, which is a sound pressure used to penetrate an object to help produce an image of what the object looks like inside. This is most commonly used in pregnancy scans to produce an image of a foetus. We found that at a particular wave frequency the meta-material has a negative refraction effect, which means that the image produced in the flat lens appears at a high resolution in exactly the same way it appears in reality.
“What surprised us most of all, however, was at the point where negative refraction occurs the meta-material becomes invisible, suggesting that if we were to use this in sonogram technology, it could be possible to make the image appear in mid-air like a hologram rather than on a computer screen. We also found that if we arranged the meta-material in a checkerboard fashion, sound became trapped, making noisy machines, for example, quieter.”
The scientists predict that the technology could be adapted for tests at higher sound frequencies such as when drilling for oil, where a more accurate image of the earth could be made in order to pin point where drilling should take place.
Source: University of Liverpool
Related stories:
Hearts a flutter as exam includes audio portion for first time
Hearts will be racing faster this fall for every medical student in the country. That's because the three-part test every medical student and resident must pass will be delivered in a new way: by listening to a heartbeat. It's a skill that some say has become an Achilles heel in the medical field.
IBM Research Develops Technology to Aid Human Memory
(PhysOrg.com) -- To help people remember key facts, today, IBM unveiled a software technology created in its Research Labs that uses the images, sounds, and text recorded on everyday mobile devices to help people recall names, faces, conversations and other important information.
New kind of MRI enables study of magnets for computer memory
(PhysOrg.com) -- What is there to see inside a magnet that's smaller than the head of a pin? Quite a lot, say physicists who've invented a new kind of MRI technique to do just that.
Researchers report finer lines for microchips: Advance could lead to next-generation computer chips, solar cells
MIT researchers have achieved a significant advance in nanoscale lithographic technology, used in the manufacture of computer chips and other electronic devices, to make finer patterns of lines over larger areas than have been possible with other methods.
Musical Robot Tags Along as your Serenading Sidekick
If you ever thought it would be cool to be serenaded by a robot, you might get a kick out of the new A.M.P. Bot. Developed by Hasbro Tiger Electronics, the 2.5-foot-tall humanoid rolls around on a Segway-type platform, blasting your favorite tunes, all the while following you around your house like a younger sibling with its remote control technology.
Transforming buses into mobile sensing platforms
Public buses could be transformed into mobile sensing platforms, sending out information for traffic management, road safety and even hazard alerts thanks to the work of European researchers.
New 3-D ultrasound could improve stroke diagnosis, care
Using 3-D ultrasound technology they designed, Duke University bioengineers can compensate for the thickness and unevenness of the skull to see in real-time the arteries within the brain that most often clog up and cause strokes.
Engineering students: Headset muffles loud, unnerving MRI noises
Having an MRI exam, an experience many people describe as stressful and uncomfortable, could soon become a bit more pleasant, thanks to the work of a team of University of Florida engineering students.