Exciting advancements in the field of wave-momentum shaping have opened new possibilities for manipulating objects in dynamic and disordered media. Researchers have developed a method that optimizes the momentum of sound waves in real-time, allowing for the manipulation of objects without the need for a controlled environment.
Light and sound waves have long been utilized for moving objects by transferring linear or angular momentum. This has led to the creation of optical and acoustic tweezers with applications in various fields such as biomedical engineering and quantum optics. However, the strict requirements of a controlled and static environment have limited the practicality of these techniques.
The new method developed by a team of researchers does not rely on prior knowledge of an object’s physical properties or the surrounding medium’s structure. Instead, it utilizes a real-time scattering matrix measurement and a positional guide-star to iteratively tailor the momentum of sound waves in the far field.
Through experiments, the researchers have successfully demonstrated the manipulation of objects in complex and dynamic scattering media. This breakthrough opens up new opportunities for applications in biomedical fields, sensing, and manufacturing.
By overcoming the limitations of traditional wave-based object manipulation techniques, this innovation paves the way for advancements in contactless manipulation technology. The biocompatibility and harmlessness of sound waves make them a promising tool for a wide range of applications.
