the Real Sonic Screwdriver

Sonic Screwdrivers Serve up Fundamental Physics

A real "Sonic Screwdriver" has been used to lift and spin a free-floating 10 cm rubber puck. Energy beams, such as ultrasound or laser beams, carry momentum that can be used to push objects in the path of the beam, or even rotate objects if it is a vortex beam. The helical wavefronts of vortex beams mean there is a rotating, or angular component of momentum that can exert a torque on an object.

In the video, we generate acoustic vortex beams with many intertwined helices using a 1000-element ultrasound transducer array. These beams are strong enough to both levitate and spin the 90 g rubber puck in water.

We use the screwdriving effect to test the theory that the ratio of angular momentum to energy in a vortex beam is equal to the ratio of the number of intertwined helices to the frequency of the beam. This theory is used in topics from quantum physics to biophotonics but it has not previously been proved in a single experiment. For the first time, our experimental results confirm directly the validity of this fundamental theory.

Some related websites:
http://www.imsat.org
http://www.app.dundee.ac.uk/sonotweezers
http://www.nanoporation.eu
http://www.insightec.com
http://www.iwu.edu/

• Category

  Science & Technology

[thebobert5]

Does it work on wood?

[Zhengyi Yang]

The efficiency of wood absorbing sound differs a lot depending on type. It works on wood, or any other materials. However, the inefficiencies can be much lower.

[themunchkym]

Can I has it? #nao

[Zhengyi Yang]

The most important part of this setup is the transducer which is commercial product. Except it's quite expensive, yes, of course you can have it.

[Turbine68]

Fantastic now get working on a real life tardis.

[Zhengyi Yang]

We look forward to that. :)

[littleeli2000]

What was the sound

[kevin kuka]

Don't get it?

[Mysticswagger]

is it possible to control electronics with it if so now all i have to do is build a time traveling police box acquire the ability to regenerate a new body upon death obtain paper that psychically reads your mind and gives you the information you need and get some fish fingers and custard for the trip

[Ashley Bhandari]

I was hoping to see something doctor who related

[leostarwing]

I cant hear the sound

[TheChronicler90]

Pick locks with in and then you'll be in business.

[armorhide406]

Using the ultrasonic impulses, you CAN unlock doors right?

[mazelaar]

the real question is, will it blend?

[Sonic8190]

Now if only somebody could channel the theory of the sound waves into one handheld device.

[Adam Nichols]

heck yeah! This does actual prove the base theory of the sonic screwdriver which is that you can use sound to munipulate objects.