Acoustic Levitation

Abstract

Acoustic levitation is a technique for suspending things in mid-air by using acoustic radiation forces to overcome gravity. Although acoustic levitation was initially demonstrated about a century ago, it was limited for a long time to objects much smaller than the acoustic wavelength levitating at fixed points in space. Recent advancements in sonic levitation now allow for not only suspending but also rotating and translating of objects in three dimensions. Acoustic levitation is no longer limited to small things; it may now be used to elevate objects that are larger than the acoustic wavelength. The advancement of acoustic levitation is reviewed in this article, with a focus on the working mechanisms of several types of acoustic levitation devices developed to date. We'll begin with a quick overview of the theory. Following that, we go over acoustic levitation methods for suspending things in fixed places, as well as approaches for manipulating objects. Finally, we give a quick overview and discuss some potential possibilities for acoustic levitation.