Holding characteristics of planar objects suspended by near-field acoustic levitation

The authors have found the acoustic levitation phenomenon where planar objects of 10 kg weight can be levitated near a vibration surface. This phenomenon has been studied for non-contact transportation. A circular planar object can be suspended without contacting a circular vibration plate. We have studied the holding force which acts horizontally on the levitated objects. The horizontal position of the object is stabilized by this force. In this paper, we discuss the effect of the radius of a levitated object, levitation distance, displacement amplitude of the vibration plate and the vibration mode on the suspending force.     

On the horizontal wobbling of an object levitated by near-field acoustic levitation

A circular planar object can be levitated with several hundreds of microns by ultrasonic near-field acoustic levitation (NFAL). However, when both the sound source and the levitated object are circularly shaped and the center of the levitated object does not coincide with the source center, instability problem often occurs. When this happens, it becomes difficult to pick up or transport the object for the next process. In this study, when the center of the levitated object was offset from the source center, the moving direction of the levitated object was predicted by using the time averaged potential around the levitated object. The wobbling frequency of the levitated object was calculated by analyzing the nonlinear wobbling motion of the object. It was shown that the predicted wobbling frequencies agreed with measured ones well. Finally, a safe zone was suggested to avoid the unstable movement of an object.     

Floating synthesis with enhanced catalytic performance via acoustic levitation processing

Acoustic levitation supplies a containerless state to eliminate natural convection and heterogeneous crystal nucleation and thus provides a highly uniform and ultra clean condition in the confined levitating area. Herein, we attempt to make full use of these advantages to fabricate well dispersed metal nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles, synthesized in an acoustically levitated droplet, exhibited a smaller size and improved catalytic performance in 4-nitrophenol reduction were synthesized in an acoustically levitated droplet. The sound field was simulated to understand the impact of acoustic levitation on gold nanoparticle growth with the aid of crystal growth theory. Chemical reducing reactions in the acoustic levitated space trend to occur in a better dispersed state because the sound field supplies continuous vibration energy. The bubble movement and the cavitation effect accelerate the nucleation, decrease the size, and the internal flow inside levitated droplet probably inhibit the particle fusion in the growth stage. These factors lead to a reduction in particle size compared with the normal wet chemical synthetic condition. The resultant higher surface area and more numerous active catalytic sites contribute to the improvement of the catalytic performance.     

Contactless transport of matter in the first five resonance modes of a line-focused acoustic manipulator

The first five resonance modes for transport of matter in a line-focused acoustic levitation system are investigated. Contactless transport was achieved by varying the height between the radiating plate and the reflector. Transport and levitation of droplets in particular involve two limits of the acoustic forces. The lower limit corresponds to the minimum force required to overcome the gravitational force. The upper limit corresponds to the maximum acoustic pressure beyond which atomization of the droplet occurs. As the droplet size increases, the lower limit increases and the upper limit decreases. Therefore to have large droplets levitated, relatively flat radiation pressure amplitude during the translation is needed. In this study, using a finite element model, the Gor'kov potential was calculated for different heights between the reflector and the radiating plate. The application of the Gor'kov potential was extended to study the range of droplet sizes for which the droplets can be levitated and transported without atomization. It was found that the third resonant mode (H(3)-mode) represents the best compromise between high levitation force and smooth pattern transition, and water droplets of millimeter radius can be levitated and transported. The H(3)-mode also allows for three translation lines in parallel.     

Levitation of iridium and liquid mercury by ultrasound

Single-axis acoustic levitation of the heaviest solid (iridium, rho=22.6 g cm(-3)) and liquid (mercury, rho=13.6 g cm(-3) on the Earth is achieved by greatly enhancing both the levitation force and stability through optimizing the geometric parameters of the levitator. The acoustically levitated Pb-Sn eutectic alloy melt (rho=8.5 g cm(-3)) is highly undercooled by up to 38 K, which results in a microstructural transition of "lamellae-broken lamellae-dendrites." The drastic enhancement of levitation capability indicates a broader application range of single-axis acoustic levitation.     

Single-axis ultrasound levitation system with annular clamping forces

Based on the principle of acoustic levitation,a single-axis ultrasonic levitation system(SAULS) with convex sides was designed.A normal SAULS only provides a levitation force(LF) against the gravity of the sample.While,such systems also provide an annular clamping force(ACF) surrounding the levitated samples,and improve levitation stability of samples in the standing wave field.Using the finite-difference time-domain method,we investigated the force distributions in different resonance cavities and the factors that influence the magnitude of the levitation force in optimizing the SAULS and the ACF.The theoretical analyses and experimental results indicate that the stability of levitation in this special SAULS is improved with the ACF from its designed convex-side feature.It can be developed into a simple device in levitating and moving samples steadily in related experiments and applications.     

Excessive levitation for the efficient loading of large-volume optical dipole traps

We study the excessive levitation effect in the magnetically levitated loading process of ultracold Cs atoms into a large-volume crossed optical dipole trap. We analyze the motion of atoms with a non-zero combined gravito-magnetic force during the loading, where the magnetically levitated force catches up with and surpasses the gravity. We present the theoretical variations of both acceleration and velocity with levitation time and magnetic field gradient. We measure the evolution of the number of trapped atoms with the excessive levitation time at different magnetic field gradients. The dependence of the number of atoms on the magnetic field gradient is also measured for different excessive levitation times.The theoretical analysis shows reasonable agreement with the experimental results. Our investigation illustrates that the excessive levitation can be used to reduce the heating effect of atoms in the magnetically levitated loading process, and to improve the loading rate of a large-volume optical dipole trap.     

Parametric resonance in acoustically levitated water drops

Liquid drops can be suspended in air with acoustic levitation method. When the sound pressure is periodically modulated, the levitated drop is usually forced into an axisymmetric oscillation. However, a transition from axisymmetric oscillation into sectorial oscillation occurs when the modulation frequency approaches some specific values. The frequency of the sectorial oscillation is almost exactly half of the modulation frequency. It is demonstrated that this transition is induced by the parametric resonance of levitated drop. The natural frequency of sectorial oscillation is found to decrease with the increase of drop distortion extent.     

Phase equilibrium measurements of acoustically levitated squalane–CO2 mixtures by Raman spectroscopy

This work describes the phase equilibrium measurements of acoustically levitated binary mixtures with concentration measurements using Raman spectroscopy without sample extraction of the autoclave. The levitator design is implemented in a Single‐Droplet Optical Cell for levitation processes under varying atmospheres. The advantages of acoustic levitation of small droplets under increased temperatures and pressure combined with spectroscopic applications like Raman spectroscopy enable novel experiments possibly relevant to the fields of chemical engineering. To the author's knowledge, this is the first use of Raman spectroscopy for phase equilibria investigations on acoustically levitated droplets under high pressure and temperature. The results show very good agreements with literature data. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non-contact transportation using near-field acoustic levitation

Near-field acoustic levitation, where planar objects 10 kg in weight can levitate stably near the vibrating plate, is successfully applied both to non-contact transportation of objects and to a non-contact ultrasonic motor. Transporting apparatuses and an ultrasonic motor have been fabricated and their characteristics measured. The theory of near-field acoustic levitation both for a piston-like sound source and a flexural vibration source is also briefly described.     

Review of Progress in Acoustic Levitation

Acoustic levitation uses acoustic radiation forces to counteract gravity and suspend objects in mid-air. Although acoustic levitation was first demonstrated almost a century ago, for a long time, it was limited to objects much smaller than the acoustic wavelength levitating at fixed positions in space. Recent advances in acoustic levitation now allow not only suspending but also rotating and translating objects in three dimensions. Acoustic levitation is also no longer restricted to small objects and can now be employed to levitate objects larger than the acoustic wavelength. This article reviews the progress of acoustic levitation, focusing on the working mechanism of different types of acoustic levitation devices developed to date. We start with a brief review of the theory. Then, we review the acoustic levitation methods to suspend objects at fixed positions, followed by the techniques that allow the manipulation of objects. Finally, we present a brief summary and offer some future perspectives for acoustic levitation.     

超声悬浮过程中圆柱体的旋转运动机理研究

研究了圆柱体在超声悬浮过程中的旋转运动机理.实验发现:悬浮圆柱体的密度和长径比越小,转动惯量越小,其稳态旋转的转速越大;反射端在水平方向的偏移会产生回复力矩,使圆柱体停止旋转,且圆柱体静止时的轴线方向与反射端偏移方向垂直;在圆柱体两端加入适当的外界干扰可以主动抑制其旋转.计算表明,悬浮圆柱体的旋转起源于其质心偏移产生的力矩,而反射端位置的偏移以及发射端的倾斜均会抑制圆柱体的旋转.     

气体物理性质对近场超声悬浮特性的影响研究

在利用近场超声悬浮技术搬运晶圆的过程中,为提高近场超声悬浮力,该文研究了气体物理性质与近场超声悬浮力之间的关系。利用声辐射压理论与流体力学理论对不同气体介质下的悬浮力进行建模与求解。搭建了可测量不同气体环境中悬浮力的实验平台。实验发现氩气环境下超声悬浮力平均值相对空气环境下提升24.8%。结合实验与理论计算分析了气体密度、比热容比、声速与动力黏度对悬浮力的影响,推断气体的比热容比为影响近场超声悬浮力的主要参数。该方法为晶圆搬运的环境适用性提供了参考价值。     

Design of an Acoustic Levitator for Three-Dimensional Manipulation of Numerous Particles

We present a design of an acoustic levitator consisting of three pairs of opposite transducer arrays.Three orthogonal standing waves create a large number of acoustic traps at which the particles are levitated in mid-air.By changing the phase difference of transducer arrays,three-dimensional manipulation of particles is successfully realized.Moreover,the relationship between the translation of particles and the phase difference is experimentally investigated,and the result is in agreement with the theoretical calculation.This design can expand the application of acoustic levitation in many fields,such as biomedicine,ultrasonic motor and new materials processing.     

声悬浮及声速测定实验仪的设计

《声速测定》是大学物理实验中比较普遍的一个综合性实验。在声速测定实验仪的基础上,改进了信号源,并制作了声悬浮配件,使其实现既可以用多种方式测量声速,又可演示声悬浮实验现象。声悬浮及声速测定实验仪悬浮稳定性强,声速测定准确,仪器造价低,使用方便,这样设计节省了实验室资源和空间。     

Study on Transient Properties of Levitated Object in Near-FieldAcoustic Levitation

A new approach to the study on the transient properties of the levitated object in near-field acoustic levitation (NFAL) is presented. In this article, the transient response characteristics, including the levitated height of an object with radius of 24 mm and thickness of 5 mm, the radial velocity and pressure difference of gas at the boundary of clearance between the levitated object and radiating surface (squeeze film), is calculated according to several velocity amplitudes of radiating surface. First, the basic equations in fluid areas on Arbitrary Lagrange-Euler (ALE) form are numerically solved by using streamline upwind
petrov galerkin (SUPG) finite elements method. Second, the formed algebraic equations and solid control equations are solved by using synchronous
alternating method to gain the transient messages of the levitated object and gas in the squeeze film. Through theoretical and numerical analyses, it
is found that there is a oscillation time in the transient process and that the response time does not simply increase with the increasing of velocity
amplitudes of radiating surface. More investigations in this paper are helpful for the understanding of the transient properties of levitated
object in NFAL, which are in favor of enhancing stabilities and responsiveness of levitated object.     

静电悬浮技术研究进展

利用静电悬浮技术可使各种材料处于稳定的悬浮无容器状态,达到深过冷,并对材料的熔凝过程进行实时观测.文章介绍了静电悬浮技术的机理及其在材料科学研究中的应用,并展望了它的发展方向.     

Levitation force relaxation under reloading in a HTS Maglev system

The loading capacity of the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev vehicle is an important parameter in the practical application. It is closely related to the levitation force of the HTS bulk. Many papers reported that the levitation force showed the relaxation characteristic. Because different loads cause different levitation gaps and different applied magnetic fields, the levitation force relaxations under the different loads are not the same. In terms of cylindrical YBCO bulk levitated over the permanent magnetic guideway, the relationship between the levitation force relaxation and the reloading is investigated experimentally in this paper. The decrement, the decrement rate and the relaxation rate of the levitation force are calculated, respectively. This work might be helpful for studying the loading capacity of the HTS Maglev vehicle.     

Acoustic nonlinearity parameter tomography for biological tissues via parametric array from a circular piston source--theoretical analysis and computer simulations

The acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A describes the nonlinear features of a medium and may become a novel parameter for ultrasonic tissue characterization. This paper presents a theoretical analysis for acoustic nonlinear parameter tomography via a parametric array. As two primary waves of different frequencies are radiated simultaneously from a circular piston source, a secondary wave at the difference frequency is generated due to the nonlinear interaction of the primary waves. The axial and radial distributions of sound pressure amplitude for the generated difference frequency wave in the near field are calculated by a superposition of Gaussian beams. The calculated results indicated that the difference frequency component of the parametric array grows linearly with distance from the piston source. It therefore provides a better source to do the acoustic nonlinearity parameter tomography because the fundamental and second harmonic signals both have a near field that goes through many oscillations due to diffraction. By using a finite-amplitude insert substitution method and a filtered convolution algorithm, a computer simulation for B/A tomography from the calculated sound pressure of the difference frequency wave is studied. For biological tissues, the sound attenuation is considered and compensated in the image reconstruction. Nonlinear parameter computed tomography (CT) images for several biological sample models are obtained with quite good quality in this study.     

声悬浮过程的格子Boltzmann方法研究

采用轴对称多弛豫时间格子Boltzmann(LB)方法,研究了圆柱形封闭谐振腔中圆盘形样品的声悬浮过程.模拟结果表明,(001)模式下谐振腔的共振长度L=0.499λ,在谐振腔中心引入样品后共振漂移量δL≈-0.9,这与线性声学理论计算结果基本相符.声悬浮力的LB模拟过程包含了黏滞性效应和共振漂移效应,所获得的模拟结果与理论公式计算值在量值上一致,而且其在细节上更符合实验现象.此外,LB模拟还揭示出了声悬浮过程中的声压波形畸变、声流和声辐射压等非线性声学效应.