Twisting sound: Scientists discover a new way to control mechanical vibrations in metamaterial

(Press-News.org) NEW YORK, October 13, 2025 — Scientists at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered a groundbreaking way to control sound and vibrations using a concept inspired by “twistronics,” a phenomenon originally developed for electronics. Their research, published in the journal PNAS, introduces “twistelastics”— a technique that uses tiny rotations between layers of engineered surfaces to manipulate how mechanical waves travel.

Sound and vibration control are essential for technologies like ultrasound imaging, microelectronics, and advanced sensors. Traditionally, these systems rely on fixed designs, limiting flexibility. The new approach allows engineers to reconfigure wave behavior by twisting two layers of engineered surfaces, enabling unprecedented adaptability.

“Our work shows that by simply twisting these two layers, we can achieve extreme control over mechanical waves,” said Andrea Alù, Einstein and Distinguished Professor of Physics at the CUNY Graduate Center and founding director of the Photonics Initiative at the CUNY ASRC. “This opens the door to new technologies for sensing, communication, and signal processing.”

To accomplish their breakthrough, the team combined theory, computer simulations, and experiments using 3D-printed prototypes to design special surfaces called metasurfaces, which were patterned with microscopic pillars. When two identical metasurfaces are stacked and rotated at different angles relative to each other, their combined structure changes the way vibrations spread — switching between different topologies that govern wave direction. At a critical rotation angle, dubbed the “magic angle,” waves become highly focused and guided, opening possibilities for faster, more efficient signal processing.

The introduction of twistelastics will allow for greater control of broadband signals across a wide range of frequencies, and it will enable wave behavior to be quickly adjusted, improving the transmission of information. The new technique will also facilitate the design of systems with greater resistance to glitches due to fabrication imperfections.

Researchers anticipate their breakthrough having applications in medical imaging, consumer electronics, and microfluidics. Twistelastics could eventually be miniaturized for chip-scale devices, revolutionizing how we manipulate sound and vibrations in everyday technology.

 

About the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center

The Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) is a world-leading center of scientific excellence that elevates STEM inquiry and education at CUNY and beyond. The CUNY ASRC’s research initiatives span five distinctive, but broadly interconnected disciplines: nanoscience, photonics, neuroscience, structural biology, and environmental sciences. The center promotes a collaborative, interdisciplinary research culture where renowned and emerging scientists advance their discoveries using state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge core facilities.

 

About the Graduate Center of The City University of New York
The CUNY Graduate Center is a leader in public graduate education devoted to enhancing the public good through pioneering research, serious learning, and reasoned debate. The Graduate Center offers ambitious students over 50 doctoral, master’s, and certificate programs of the highest caliber, taught by top faculty from throughout CUNY — the nation’s largest urban public university. Through its nearly 40 centers, institutes, initiatives, and the Advanced Science Research Center, the Graduate Center influences public policy and discourse and shapes innovation. The Graduate Center’s extensive public programs make it a home for culture and conversation. 

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