Amazing stuff! Let the sparks fly!
"... Scientists in Europe and Canada have now managed to guide sparks through thin air and even around obstacles using ultrasound waves. ...
The method allows sparks to be directed so precisely that they can bend around obstacles, and hit specific spots on a material even if it isn’t conductive. ...
When a spark ignites, it heats up the air around it. This warmer air expands, which reduces its density. Since electricity prefers to travel through lower density air, the spark moves in that direction. The ultrasound pulses move this hotter, lower-density air around, which in turn guides the electricity with surprising precision. ..."
From the abstract:
"Electric plasma forms sparks in midair that transfer electrical current. This current can power high-voltage electronics, kill bacteria, produce tactile sensations, or be used for welding.
However, the formation of the spark is chaotic and hard to control.
Laser pulses can guide discharges but require high power and are disruptive and cumbersome to control.
Here, we show that ultrasonic fields can guide plasma sparks, even around obstacles. The ultrasonic beams can be directed dynamically and within milliseconds, enabling precise, non-dangerous, and fast control of high-voltage sparks. This phenomenon can be used for applications in high-voltage switching and plasma treatments."
Making an invisible electric wire: guiding electricity with sound (original news release)
Electric plasma guided with ultrasonic fields (open access)
Fig. 3. Guidance of the spark along a curved acoustic field created with two focal points coming from two rings of emitters.
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