EPFL researchers have developed a 100% effective, ultra-thin active noise cancelling system that uses an ionized air plasma propulsion system instead of speakers. A 17mm (0.6 inch) thick layer can block 20 Hz noise as well as a 4m (13 ft) thick wall.
  • EPFL researchers have developed an ultra-thin active noise cancellation system based on an ionized air-plasma propulsion system.
  • The 17mm thick system blocks out 20Hz noise as well as a 4m thick wall.
  • Active noise cancellation (ANC) is based on the measurement and generation of pressure sound waves through speakers.
  • The EPFL Acoustic Group team tested the noise canceling capabilities of plasma ion speakers.
  • Ion speakers work like ion propulsion systems, using an electric field to ionize the air and create pressure waves.
  • The plasmacoustic metalayer system can completely suppress a sound wave as thin as one-thousandth of a wavelength.
  • EPFL has licensed the plasma-based technology from the Swiss company Sonexos for commercialization in various applications.
  • The study is publicly available on the Nature Communications website.