Broadband signal response of thermo-acoustic devices and its applications.

Thermo-acoustic (TA) transducers are generation of sound speakers without any mechanical vibration system which exhibit an extremely wide frequency response range. In this paper, acoustic field responses to broadband input signals applied to both free-standing and nano-thinfilm-substrate thermo-acoustic devices are developed theoretically by using the Fourier transformation. A series of signals, including single-frequency signal, square root signal, periodic triangle wave signal, and periodic rectangular pulse signal, are applied to these TA devices in simulations and the acoustic pressure responses are investigated. The reproducibility of input signals is predicted. The single frequency results show good agreement with previously published experimental results. Alternative methods for reproducing the original signals with small distortion and low power consumption are introduced. The excellent performance of the TA devices on broadband signal responses will provide a design approach for sound parametric array and underwater communication equipment.