At the heart of their research is the concept of sound waves "tunneling" through a vacuum gap, provided the solids on either side are piezoelectric. For those less familiar with the term, piezoelectric materials have the unique ability to generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress, such as sound waves. The resulting electric field produced by these vibrations can permeate a vacuum, effectively allowing sound waves to cross.
However, this isn't a carte blanche for any sound wave to travel through space. The tunneling is dependent on the vacuum gap being smaller than the sound wave's wavelength. The researchers found that this tunneling phenomenon isn't limited just to the audio frequency range (Hz-kHz). It's also observable in ultrasound (MHz) and hypersound (GHz) frequencies, contingent on the vacuum gap size being reduced in correlation with increasing frequencies.
"In most cases, the effect is small, but we also found situations where the full energy of the wave jumps across the vacuum with 100% efficiency, without any reflections," commented Professor Ilari Maasilta, elucidating the significance of the findings. This revelation isn't just an academic curiosity. Its practical applications have the potential to influence sectors dependent on microelectromechanical systems (or MEMS, commonly found in smartphone technology). Moreover, it could also play a pivotal role in controlling heat in various technologies.
The groundbreaking research undertaken by the team at the Nanoscience Center was generously supported by the Academy of Finland and the European Union's Horizon 2020 program. For those seeking a deeper dive into the details of this discovery, the full study was published in the journal Communications Physics on 15th July 2023.
Research Report:Complete tunneling of acoustic waves between piezoelectric crystals, Communications
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