AbstractsPhysics

By calculating accurately the signals of wave sources following specific techniques, one can use their induced wave fields, in order to synthesize wave patterns with predefined spatial and temporal characteristics, inside various wave media. Using the previous idea, the first part of this thesis presents a linear wave field synthesis method which has potential applications in acoustic and electromagnetic media. Virtual sound reproduction mechanisms used in theaters and teleconference systems, as well as medical devices using ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation, could benefit from this method. The method is compared with traditional acoustic wave field synthesis techniques and simulations demonstrating its applicability on different source topologies with different radiation characteristics are also presented. Unlike the linear analysis of the first part, the second part of this thesis is focused on the theoretical and experimental study of certain nonlinear wave field synthesis phenomena which appear on two dimensional nonlinear LC lattices. More specifically, it is demonstrated how nonlinearity can help in synthesizing high frequency and high power wave pulses at the central points of these lattices, using many low power and low frequency sources at the boundaries. This idea has potential applications in ultra wide band communication and imaging systems and holds a promise of "closing the Terahertz window" formed by the power vs. frequency performance of electronic and optical devices.