Within the framework of the Dynamo project, a new article has been published that is of great significance to the scientific community, specifically in the field of acoustics: “Observation of two-dimensional acoustic bound states in the continuum” by Marc Martí-Sabaté, Junfei Li, Bahram Djafari-Rouhani, Steven A. Cummer, and Dani Torrent. This study, published in Communication Physics, has achieved a notable innovation in acoustic physics by observing two-dimensional acoustic bound states in the continuum (BICs). This pioneering study introduces a novel acoustic resonator design that traps sound waves with a theoretically infinite quality factor, achieving the energy confinement expected in this kind of modes.
The core of this innovation lies in the design on an engineered open structure that traps acoustic waves, avoiding their radiation to the “free space”. This structure is based on a circular arrangement of drilled holes atop a rigid surface, and benefits form the multiple interaction of sound waves between the different holes.
This configuration allows the creation of specific interference patterns that prevent the leakage of sound waves, trapping them within the system. The implications of this discovery are promising, enhancing acoustic device performance across various applications, including sensors and energy harvesting systems.
The work is based on a preliminary theoretical study of the authors, but the experimental validation of their theory opens up new avenues for acoustic technologies, specially in the desing of sensors, resonators or optomechanical cavities, among others.
For a deeper dive into the specifics of the experiment and the theoretical background, you can access the full content here.