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What are Some Acoustic Weapons?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Acoustic weapons, also known as sonic or ultrasonic weapons, are devices that distract, harass, injure, or even kill a target using sound. Obviously, sound is not just a medium for speech or music. It is energy in the air, and its energy density can be measured in watts. At enough decibels, it can rupture the eardrums and cause extreme pain. At lower — but still high — decibels, acoustic weapons can be extremely annoying and distracting. The human threshold of pain for sound is 120 – 140 dB.

Acoustic weapons have a history similar to particle or laser beam weapons. Tons of speculation and science fiction, but few working devices. Research into acoustic weapons has been ongoing for a number of decades but practical applications have only truly rolled out since 1995 or so. Leading the pack is the long range acoustic device (LRAD), developed by the American Technology Corporation. The LRAD is basically a small array of high-powered speakers which projects a tweeting noise in the direction of the offending individual or group. It was originally invented to be used by US Navy vessels to warn other ships encroaching without permission, but its use has been extended to the ground (in Iraq) and by police.

Acoustic weapons are sometimes used by ships as a defense or deterrent against pirates.
Acoustic weapons are sometimes used by ships as a defense or deterrent against pirates.

The LRAD is an acoustic weapon that only weighs 45 lb (20 kg) but projects a sound beam as intense as 146 dB (1000 W/m²) at 1 meter, 90 dB at 300 meters. At close range, this is enough to permanently damage hearing, an aspect of some concern, especially in a domestic use context. Its manufacturer states that the acoustic weapon is only meant to be used for short bursts of a few seconds. The LRAD is also used by cruise ships to deter pirates in hot spots like the Caribbean.

Some speculate that ultrasound beams the Navy uses to communicate with submarines can double as acoustic weapons.
Some speculate that ultrasound beams the Navy uses to communicate with submarines can double as acoustic weapons.

Other more experimental or speculative acoustic weapons have been proposed and some are in various stages of development. Some may have already been developed but are kept secret. These include phased arrays of infrasonic emitters which can penetrate armor and concrete walls, demonstrated by the US Department of Defense; a Vortex Ring Gun (weak versions demonstrated by hobbyists, and sonic bullets in development for anti-hijacking airplane kits. There has been unconfirmed speculation about the use of ultrasound beams used by Navy ships to communicate with submarines having a dual-use function as anti-frogman weapons.

Even more hypothetical or experimental acoustic weapons concepts include an infrasound beam that can cause a building to resonate harmonically and collapse, an ultrasound beam powerful enough to liquefy living tissue, and a beam of focused sound like focused light in lasers. Disintegration of solids in liquids using ultrasound has long been known in industry, but large-scale acoustic weapons applications have been elusive if not non-existent.

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime AllTheScience contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime AllTheScience contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

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Discussion Comments

anon72931

Ask the New Zealand government. They are experts on domestic use.

Hawksecho

Re: Acoustic warfare in the basic sense; Any explosive effect in any environment is an acoustic effect. Be it a cannon shell (not including ones that rely on mass/kinetic, or in some cases what some call esoteric force. Good ex: the 30mm GAU rottery cannon in the A-10 Warthog, or, New "rail gun, or EM accelerated naval weapons coming on line, can have the projectile mass reduced by many-multiple times and will strike with more power then any thing short of a nuke, in most cases. No explosive required. Most conventional explosions simply generate a displacement wave, the concussion is determined by the greater the trough, as well as spacing between east crest.

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    • Acoustic weapons are sometimes used by ships as a defense or deterrent against pirates.
      By: mathesius
      Acoustic weapons are sometimes used by ships as a defense or deterrent against pirates.
    • Some speculate that ultrasound beams the Navy uses to communicate with submarines can double as acoustic weapons.
      Some speculate that ultrasound beams the Navy uses to communicate with submarines can double as acoustic weapons.