Session: 01-02-04: Phononic Devices

Paper Number: 173958

3d-Printed Acoustic Metalens for Tunable Underwater Vortex Beam Generation and Control 

Acoustic vortex beams, which carry orbital angular momentum (OAM), have garnered growing interest due to their unique wavefront structure and potential applications in a wide range of fields, including particle manipulation, targeted medical imaging, and underwater communications. These beams exhibit helical phase fronts, making them particularly useful for non-contact manipulation and high-resolution focusing. However, conventional approaches to generating and controlling such beams typically rely on complex hardware setups, including arrays of transducers, phase-shifting electronics, or mechanically adjustable components. These methods not only increase system complexity but also limit practical implementation due to size, cost, and control constraints. In this study, we present a novel and highly efficient strategy for generating multifunctional acoustic vortex beams using a single, compact 3D-printed metalens. Our design is based on a carefully engineered phase distribution across the lens surface, enabling advanced control over the resulting acoustic fields. Unlike traditional systems, our approach eliminates the need for multiple devices or moving parts, significantly simplifying the architecture while maintaining high performance. The proposed metalens demonstrates a versatile capability to produce a variety of beam configurations. These include off-axis vortex beams, tilted beams with directional control, and dual-focus beams generated through the use of concentric spiral phase zones. This flexibility allows for customized beam shaping tailored to specific application needs. One of the most innovative features of our design is its frequency-multiplexed dual-focus functionality. By encoding different spiral phase profiles at distinct radial positions and matching them with specific frequencies, the metalens can independently modulate each acoustic vortex beam at separate operational frequencies. This enables real-time reconfiguration of the acoustic field without any mechanical adjustment or additional circuitry, offering a powerful tool for dynamic acoustic manipulation. To validate our approach, we conducted both numerical simulations and experimental tests in underwater environments. The results confirm that our metalens can precisely shape and steer the acoustic pressure field as intended, demonstrating excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. The compact size, low manufacturing cost, and passive nature of the device make it especially appealing for integration into portable or remote-controlled acoustic systems. Overall, this work introduces a streamlined and scalable solution for the generation and control of acoustic vortex beams. By leveraging the design freedom of 3D printing and the principles of phase engineering, our metalens provides a practical and adaptable platform with broad applicability. This technology opens new possibilities for advanced acoustic manipulation in areas such as acoustofluidics, targeted therapy, noninvasive medical procedures, and underwater communication networks.

Presenting Author: Chadi Ellouzi Rowan University

Presenting Author Biography: Chadi Ellouzi is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University in New Jersey. He conducts his research in the Functional Materials and Structures Laboratory, where he focuses on two main areas. The first involves acoustic metamaterials and metasurfaces, with an emphasis on their applications in the manipulation and control of acoustic and surface waves. The second area centers on acoustofluidics, particularly the use of bulk and surface acoustic waves for the precise manipulation of cells and microparticles. His work bridges fundamental research and practical innovation, contributing to advancements in wave-based technologies and microscale biomedical applications

Authors:

Chadi Ellouzi Rowan University
Ali Zabihi Rowan University
Farhood Aghdasi Rowan University
Chen Shen Rowan University