Apparatus for handling particles by acoustic radiation

摘要

An apparatus for exerting an ultrasound beam on a sample solution containing particles to be concentrated, separated or arranged permits arbitrarily controlling the spatial distribution of the potential energy created by the ultrasound beam and concentrating, separating or periodically arranging the particles. Irradiation ultrasound sources (631, 632) for generating ultrasound beams are provided on a chamber holding said solution to create an ultrasonic intensity distribution for producing a position potential energy distribution used to exert on each particle a force forwarded in a predetermined direction or a force staying at a predetermined region. Thus, a specific spatial distribution of the potential energy can be realised by ultrasound beams each having a specific intensity, a specific frequency and a specific phase or by an ultrasound beam formed by the mutual superposition of such beams. Further, at least one suction hole (671) for recovering separated solvents or particles is defined in a wall surface of the chamber, which is orthogonal to the flow of the sample solution.