System, computer-implemented method, computer program and non-volatile data carrier for generating an acoustic channel for levitation of matter

A computer-implemented method for levitating matter, the method comprising:

• defining an acoustic channel comprising one or more high-pressure region enclosing a continuous pressure minimum region that extends along a defined channel path from a start position to an end position;
• and
• generating, by a controller, a control signal which is configured to cause at least one acoustic transducer array to emit acoustic energy of periodically varying intensity, each of the at least one acoustic transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements, and the transducer elements being controllable in response to the control signal so as to emit the acoustic energy at a wavelength and phase delay determined by the control signal, and the control signal being generated such that the emitted acoustic energy forms an acoustic-potential field of acoustic waves being constructively combined at a plurality of common focal points, the plurality of common focal points being divided into N channel control groups, each channel control group comprising at least two common focal points, the common focal points in each channel control group being located along a periphery of a respective circular cross-section of the acoustic channel, wherein phases of the at least two common focal points in each channel control group is equally distributed between 0° and 360° around the periphery of the respective circular cross-section, and the phase of each common focal point in a channel control group corresponds within a preset tolerance to a phase of a closest common focal point in a neighboring channel control group or groups, thereby creating the defined acoustic channel.

A computer program product comprising computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, said computer program code configured for levitating matter, said computer program code comprising computer instructions to cause at least one processor to perform the following operations:

• defining an acoustic channel comprising one or more high-pressure region enclosing a continuous pressure minimum region that extends along a defined channel path from a start position to an end position;
• and
• generating, by a controller, a control signal which is configured to cause at least one acoustic transducer array to emit acoustic energy of periodically varying intensity, each of the at least one acoustic transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements, and the transducer elements being controllable in response to the control signal so as to emit the acoustic energy at a wavelength and phase delay determined by the control signal, and the control signal being generated such that the emitted acoustic energy forms an acoustic-potential field of acoustic waves being constructively combined at a plurality of common focal points, the plurality of common focal points being divided into N channel control groups, each channel control group comprising at least two common focal points, the common focal points in each channel control group being located along a periphery of a respective circular cross-section of the acoustic channel, wherein phases of the at least two common focal points in each channel control group is equally distributed between 0° and 360° around the periphery of the respective circular cross-section, and the phase of each common focal point in a channel control group corresponds within a preset tolerance to a phase of a closest common focal point in a neighboring channel control group or groups, thereby creating the defined acoustic channel.