Underwater Acoustic Carbon Nanotube Thermophone
Abstract
The present invention is an acoustically transparent carbon nanotube underwater acoustic source which acts as a thermophone based on an energy conversion of heat to sound. The principle of thermal acoustic transduction is thatwhen alternating current is passed through a comparatively thin transducer; periodic heating takes place in the conductor following variations in current strength. This periodic heating produces temperature waves which propagate into a surrounding medium. The amplitude of the temperature wave decreases rapidly as the distance from the conductor increases. Based on the rapid production of these temperature waves; the net effect is to produce a periodic rise in temperature in a limited portion of the medium near the conductor. Thermal expansion and contraction of this layer of the medium determines the amplitude of the resulting sound waves.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 23, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1034376
Entities
People
- Dehua Huang
- Thomas R. Howarth
Organizations
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center