Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Controllable Nucleation of Cavitation from Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles for Enhancing High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Applications
Published on: October 5, 2018
A new concept in underwater high fidelity low frequency sound generation
Paulo J Fonseca1, J Maia Alves
1Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental and SESUL, Lisboa 1749-016, Portugal.
Abstract:
This article reports on a new type of system for high fidelity underwater sound generation (patent pending PT105474). The system includes an underwater sound actuator and the corresponding electronic driver. The sound is generated by a rigid plate that is actuated (both for positioning/dumping and excitation) using purely electromagnetic forces, thus, avoiding the use of any elastic membrane. Since there is no compressible air inside the device, which is flooded by water, the operation of this device is independent from depth, broadening its applications to any water pressure. Characterization of the frequency response, the radiation characteristics, and the dynamic range of this new device for underwater sound generation is presented.
Related Concept Videos
Sound as Pressure Waves
The pressure fluctuation depends on the difference in displacements between the successive points in the...
Sound Waves: Interference
The Cochlea
Sound Waves: Resonance
Echo
Imagine the sound is reflected back to the ears. Assuming that the source is very close to the human, the difference between hearing the two sounds—the emitted sound and the reflected sound—may be more than the minimum time for perceiving distinct sounds. If this is the case, then the...
Perception of Sound Waves
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...

