The subject of research in the field of Environmental Acoustics and Musical Acoustics
(A. Preis, R.Makarewicz, R.Golębiewski, J.Felcyn, H.Hafke-Dys, E.Kozlowski), concerns the annoyance of noise generated by single sources and by sets of sources, of which urban noise is an example (J.Felcyn). The subject of research is also the propagation of road and rail noise (R. Makarewicz, R. Golębiewski) and the generation, propagation and perception of wind turbine noise (R. Makarewicz, A. Preis, R. Golębiewski, P. Kokowski). Auditory-visual interaction, very important for the perception of the human environment, is dealt with by A. Preis, H. Hafke-Dys and J. Felcyn. This work was funded by the National Science Center, the Polish-Norwegian Fund for Scientific Research and the European Commission. The results of the research conducted by H. Hafke-Dys concern the sounds generated by people suffering from respiratory diseases. Prof. A. Preis was a fellow of the Humbolt Foundation (Germany) and worked for several years in Sweden and Japan. Prof. R. Makarewicz was also a Humboldt Foundation Fellow in Germany and, in addition, spent 4 years (intermittently) teaching and conducting research in the US and Japan. The former Department of Environmental Acoustics was the organizer of the National Workshop on Wind Turbine Noise (about 50 people) and training for state and local government employees on urban noise (about 30 people).
Interior Acoustics and Psychoacoustics (A. Sęk, A.Wicher, J.Kociński)
deals with the functioning of the auditory system, i.e. models of sound perception based on the classical theory of excitation of the basilar membrane and the non-classical theory, related to phase synchronicity (assignment of neural impulses to the phase of the forcing wave). Acoustic otoemission, i.e. the generation of signals by the auditory system, is also the subject of research (A. Wicher). Research in the field of room acoustics (J. Kocinski) is linked to research on speech intelligibility. Foreign contacts of the department resulted in one-year scholarships of Prof. E. Ozimek in England and Japan and several years of activity of Prof. A. Sek in both countries.
Ultrasonic Research Group (A.Józefczak, A.Skumiel, Z.Rozynek, R.Bielas)
With the help of an ultrasonic beam it is possible to study the medium and change it. Therefore, ultrasonic waves have been widely used, among other things, in medical diagnostics and therapy and their combination, i.e. in theranostics. Currently, the Ultrasonic Research Group, conducts research on soft matter doped with nanoparticles. Recently, a theory describing the process of heating, using ultrasonic waves, tissue phantoms with magnetic nanoparticles has been formulated. In addition, a method of hyperthermic therapy has been developed to assist in the treatment of cancer. The study of Pickering emulsions and the study of the mechanical properties of colloidal capsules continue further. Four research projects funded by the National Science Center and the European Commission (Marie Curie grant) were carried out in the former Department of Molecular Acoustics.
The ultrasonic research group studies matter using waves at ultrasonic frequencies. In particular, it studies colloidal systems such as magnetic liquids and Pickering emulsions. Topics of ongoing research include:
- Investigation of the properties of ferrotitres, ferrogels and emulsions in magnetic fields by ultrasonic and magnetic spectroscopy methods.
- Study of ultrasonic and magnetic hyperthermia in magnetic liquids, ferrogels and Pickering emulsions
- Study of complexation in liquid solutions by ultrasonic spectroscopy
- Fabrication of patched colloidal capsules
- Fabrication of one-dimensional structures from microparticles using synergetic interaction of electrostatic and capillary forces
- Investigation of mechanical properties of colloidal capsules using electric field and ultrasound
- Arrangement of microparticles on the surface of liquids using electric field and ultrasound.
Electroacoustics (E.Skrodzka, E.Bogusz-Witczak)
is research in the field of assisting people with hearing and visual problems with electroacoustic methods. This research is interdisciplinary and includes classical electroacoustics, hearing aid acoustics, speech acoustics, psychoacoustics and digital signal processing. The result of this research is, among other things, a method of teaching spatial orientation to blind and visually impaired people, which is based on acoustic training and the use of a sound library of acoustic events. In the past few years, the former Electroacoustics Department has carried out three research projects funded by the National Science Center and the National Center for Research and Development. The founder of the Department, Porf. E. Hojan was a Humboldt Fellow in Munich and Bochum, and Prof. E. Skrodzka was on a one-year internship in Munich.
