Shaping sound by metamaterials Seminar

Metamaterials are normal materials (i.e. wood, plastic, glass, soda cans), but engineered to have properties not found in nature, like negative density. Acoustic metamaterials, in particular, promise to augment the many applications dominated by speaker/transducer arrays (medical ultrasound, NDT, concert halls, surround sound), and even to substitute the latter. But how do they work? Can we design one in our garage?

In this talk, I will describe how passive metamaterials can be designed, starting from a desired acoustic field and using LEGO-like bricks. I will discuss why making active metamaterials is so important and describe a (not-so-far) future where what we see in science fiction movies, like Iron Man or Minority Report, is real. I will open the discussion on more far-fetched applications, like particle manipulation/levitation and noise management.

In a nutshell, you will see how acoustic metamaterials may revolution the way we design, experience and think about sound.