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Focusing Ultrasound with an Acoustic Metamaterial Network

Shu Zhang, Leilei Yin, and Nicholas Fang
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 194301 – Published 15 May 2009
Physics logo See Synopsis: Metamaterial brings sound into focus

Abstract

We present the first experimental demonstration of focusing ultrasound waves through a flat acoustic metamaterial lens composed of a planar network of subwavelength Helmholtz resonators. We observed a tight focus of half-wavelength in width at 60.5 kHz by imaging a point source. This result is in excellent agreement with the numerical simulation by transmission line model in which we derived the effective mass density and compressibility. This metamaterial lens also displays variable focal length at different frequencies. Our experiment shows the promise of designing compact and lightweight ultrasound imaging elements.

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  • Received 26 March 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.194301

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Metamaterial brings sound into focus

Published 18 May 2009

A compact lens made from an acoustic metamaterial can focus ultrasonic waves to half a wavelength.

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Authors & Affiliations

Shu Zhang, Leilei Yin, and Nicholas Fang*

  • Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering and Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA

  • *nicfang@illinois.edu

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 19 — 15 May 2009

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