Research conducted by Junsuk Rho, Dongwoo Lee, and Beomseok Oh from POSTECH has led to the development of the first wide field-of-hearing metalens, surpassing the limitations of traditional acoustic metalenses. Sound waves are omnipresent and essential in various applications such as medical ultrasound examinations, telecommunications, and imaging. Acoustic lenses are crucial in accurately focusing sound waves, and the team’s work on metalens for light and sound manipulation has garnered attention.
Metalenses, artificial structures smaller than the wavelength of waves, allow for unrestricted manipulation of waves while reducing lens thickness. By applying the concept of a “wide field-of-view” from AR and VR devices to acoustics, the team has introduced the idea of “wide field-of-hearing” technology. Traditional acoustic metalenses suffer from sound distortion at non-perpendicular angles, but the team’s method enables precise focusing of sound waves regardless of the angle of incidence, achieving up to 140 degrees of field-of-hearing without distortion.
Professor Junsuk Rho emphasized the importance of field-of-hearing in acoustic metalenses and expressed their commitment to exploring applications in acoustic imaging, sensing, energy harvesting, and submarine monitoring in underwater environments. The research was supported by POSCO N.EX.T IMPACT and the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, indicating the significance of the findings in various industries.
The breakthrough in wide field-of-hearing metalens opens up new possibilities in sound control, with implications for medical, telecommunications, and imaging technologies. The team’s innovative approach to controlling the phase of the metalens has addressed the issue of sound distortion at non-perpendicular angles, paving the way for more accurate and efficient sound manipulation. The success of this research marks a significant advancement in the field of acoustics and presents opportunities for novel applications of wide field-of-hearing technology.
The collaboration between researchers from different departments at POSTECH underscores the multidisciplinary nature of this work and its potential impact across various industries. By combining expertise from mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and electrical engineering, the team was able to achieve a breakthrough in acoustic metalens technology, demonstrating the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in pushing the boundaries of scientific research. The publication of their findings in Nature Communications further solidifies the significance of their work and highlights the international recognition of their achievements.