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Acoustic Tractor Beam Named a Top 10 PhysicsBreakthroughUniversity Communications, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University

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Acoustic Tractor Beam Named a Top 10 Physics Breakthrough

Dec. 12, 2014

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Creation of the first acoustic tractor beam by a team including

Illinois Wesleyan University physics professor Gabriel Spalding and alumnus Patrick

Dahl ’12 has been included in the top 10 breakthroughs in physics in 2014, as judged by

Physics World magazine.

The team, which also included Christine Démoré and Mike MacDonald of the University

of Dundee, Scotland, was recognized for creating the

exert force behind a centimeter-sized object and pull it toward the energy source.

“This honor will certainly bring our work to the attention of a much wider

community, and that usually ensures that the work will have much great impact on

the experimental ‘toolkit’ that we all share,” said Spalding. “Hopefully, we can raise

the profile of the ongoing dialogue about how we think of radiation pressure, about

when the language fails to be meaningful, and about how we can open up new

opportunities by changing the way we approach certain kinds of problems.”

The top 10 breakthroughs identified in the list were chosen by the

editorial team, who reviewed over 350 news articles about advances in the physical

sciences published on physicsworld.com this year. The top breakthrough was awarded

to the first-ever landing of a man-made probe on a comet in August.

“Physics World has been my favorite science magazine for a long time, so it’s really a

thrill that they’re showing such an appreciation for our work,” Spalding added.

Patrick Dahl ’12 and Prof. Gabe Spalding

Acoustic Tractor Beam Named a Top 10 Physics Breakthrough

Creation of the first acoustic tractor beam by a team including

Illinois Wesleyan University physics professor Gabriel Spalding and alumnus Patrick

Dahl ’12 has been included in the top 10 breakthroughs in physics in 2014, as judged by

The team, which also included Christine Démoré and Mike MacDonald of the University

of Dundee, Scotland, was recognized for creating the first acoustic tractor beam by using energy from an ultrasound array to

sized object and pull it toward the energy source.

The immediate application of the new tractor beam technology

is medical. One goal is to improve ultrasound surgery used to

treat and destroy tumors more effectively and efficiently. It

could also be used to treat Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain,

or to deliver prescription drugs to a precise point in the body o

a safe supply of universal donor blood, according to Spalding,

who is the B. Charles and Joyce Eichhorn Ames Professor of

Physics.

“By creating such a tractor beam in the laboratory, the research

team will inspire scientists to think differently about

ultrasound, which could lead to the development of new and

innovative medical applications,” said Hamish Johnston, editor

of Physics World. The magazine is published by the Institute of

Physics, a professional organization for physicists around the

globe.

“This honor will certainly bring our work to the attention of a much wider

, and that usually ensures that the work will have much great impact on

the experimental ‘toolkit’ that we all share,” said Spalding. “Hopefully, we can raise

the profile of the ongoing dialogue about how we think of radiation pressure, about

anguage fails to be meaningful, and about how we can open up new

opportunities by changing the way we approach certain kinds of problems.”

The top 10 breakthroughs identified in the list were chosen by the Physics World

team, who reviewed over 350 news articles about advances in the physical

sciences published on physicsworld.com this year. The top breakthrough was awarded

made probe on a comet in August.

avorite science magazine for a long time, so it’s really a

thrill that they’re showing such an appreciation for our work,” Spalding added.

Patrick Dahl ’12 and Prof. Gabe Spalding

by using energy from an ultrasound array to

The immediate application of the new tractor beam technology

medical. One goal is to improve ultrasound surgery used to

treat and destroy tumors more effectively and efficiently. It

could also be used to treat Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain,

or to deliver prescription drugs to a precise point in the body or

a safe supply of universal donor blood, according to Spalding,

who is the B. Charles and Joyce Eichhorn Ames Professor of

“By creating such a tractor beam in the laboratory, the research

will inspire scientists to think differently about

ultrasound, which could lead to the development of new and

innovative medical applications,” said Hamish Johnston, editor

ublished by the Institute of

Physics, a professional organization for physicists around the