Ultrasonic aerosol concentration and positioning

Article By:

Kaduchak, Gregory Los Alamos National Laboratory, Electronic and Electrochemical Materials and Devices Group, Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Kwiatkowski, Christopher Los Alamos National Laboratory, Electronic and Electrochemical Materials and Devices Group, Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Sinha, Dipen Los Alamos National Laboratory, Electronic and Electrochemical Materials and Devices Group, Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Last reviewed:2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB050550

The detection, identification, and separation of aerosols have potential applications in a wide variety of fields ranging from environmental science to homeland security. Information about airborne particle sizes, particle distribution, and particle composition is important, and sometimes even critical, to researchers studying the environmental impact of industrial smog, or to military specialists and emergency responders trying to detect chemical or biological agents in the air. To aid in the detection and classification of aerosols, many researchers have turned to acoustics to help concentrate and position aerosol particles in flowing airstreams. This article describes a new class of acoustic concentration and particle manipulation devices that has been developed for use in aerosol sampling applications.

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