Sound Directed Energy Weapons
Some exotic phenomena of or using sound are well known, such as an ultrasonic scanner that can see inside the human body or the sonic boom of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier. In addition to these, there is a field of equally exotic, but more sinister uses of sound that is less well known. It is widely claimed that invisible bullets, voices in the head, speaking lamp posts and direct induction of discomfort, illness, injury and even death in people can be achieved by the controlled use of sound.
The Sound of Sickness
Dr Vladimir Gavreau was a researcher into automatons and robotic devices in the fifties. In around 1957, while working in their laboratory, he and his research team simultaneously experienced periodical bouts of nausea. After tests for pathogens and noxious gasses, and a full building check, the blame was eventually laid on a poorly installed motor-driven ventilator housed in a huge concrete duct. It was thought that the unit was producing "nauseating vibrations". Being predisposed to inquisitiveness, Gavreau and his team set about measuring these vibrations. After much difficulty and nausea, the vibrations were measured to have an unexpectedly low fundamental of 7Hz. The ventilator was exciting its duct into resonance like a huge organ pipe. These low intensity, extremely low frequency waves indeed appeared to somehow be inducing ill effects in people.
Gavreau believed he had discovered the key to a new type of weapon, so he and his team concentrated their efforts in this new field of research.
Their first experiment involved a huge 'organ pipe' excited by a piston, producing around 5Hz. The device was operated for durations of only a few seconds with a researcher standing a great distance in front of it. Even with this minimal exposure, Gavreau and his team experienced immediate pain followed by spasms and nausea lasting for at least a day. Eerily, the device was completely inaudible in operation.
It was obvious from these results that this form of weapon had great potential. There have been many developments in sonic antipersonnel weapons since Gavreau's era. However, since these have been largely under military volition, they are shrouded in secrecy. The position as it generally believed to be is described below.
Infrasonic Weapons
This class of acoustic weapon is basically a refinement of Gavreau's weapon. It is essentially an "infrasound LASER", emitting a beam of coherent sound waves at a frequency below the range of human hearing (<20Hz). There are two known methods currently used to produce infrasound.
Periodic explosion
This method uses regular explosions of a fuel/air vapour, ignited by a spark plug. This works in a similar way to an IC engine however the explosions are not confined, but their energy is transferred to the output so as to create regular pressure waves.
High Power LASER
It is not known exactly how this method works. The author believes that the laser may be pulsed so as to vaporise water causing alternate compression and rarefaction.
It is not clear exactly how these sources of infrasound are focused. From vague descriptions of devices under development by Scientific Applications & Research Associates Inc. (SARA) based in Huntington Beach, California it is thought that the sound is focused using long tubes and parabolic reflectors.
The very low frequency of infrasound means that it is not easily attenuated and can pass through most solid objects, including buildings and walls.
Effects
Infrasound causes resonance of parts of the human body. At low intensity, this can simply upset the nervous system causing nausea, as experienced by Gavreau above. It has also been reported to induce fear and confusion. At higher intensities, the energy absorbed by internal organs (including the jelly-like brain) can cause tearing, trauma and air pockets to develop. The effects of this can range from loss of bowel control to death. The length of exposure need only be a few seconds.
Use
There are currently several known uses for this weapon
crowd control
A dangerous crowd can be flooded with infrasound at an intensity designed to cause nausea and temporary pain in order to disperse them.
sonic fences
Arrays of infrasonic sources can be used as a type of fence. Any parties would become more uncomfortable is they approached the sources.
covert harassment
Specific people such as terrorists or other individuals determined to be a threat could be incapacitated in their home or workplace by bombardment with infrasound through walls.
In all applications the intensity of the energy reduces over distance due to spreading. It is important to stop people getting closer than expected to the weapon as this may result in more severe effects than intended.
There are probably other classified uses.
Sonic Bullets
This class of weapon delivers a short duration packet of high intensity focused acoustic energy. Information on the principle of operation of this weapon is very limited. Generally an explosion or other sudden release of energy is used to create an intense pulse of acoustic energy. This is somehow focused into a very small packet. The frequency of this energy is generally infrasonic thus the bullets can pass through walls. A Russian device that can propel a 10-hertz sonic bullet the size of a baseball hundreds of yards is thought to exist. It is thought to employ a 2m parabolic reflector dish.
Effects
Sonic bullets can cause blunt object trauma. They also can cause a person to feel a sudden jolt like someone has pushed them. Bearing in mind that these bullets will go through walls and cannot be heard, the psychological effects could be significant. The bullet would eventually dissipate into the atmosphere leaving no trace that it had ever existed.
Use
The potential uses for this weapon are universal. If it can be made sufficiently compact it could be used to injure people behind walls.
Ultrasonic Weapons
This class uses heterodyning between two beams of ultrasound (>20kHz). These beams are produced by high power piezo- electric horns. Where two beams of slightly different frequency are focused at a particular point, the beams will interact at this point resulting in an audible sound at the difference frequency. It is possible to phase modulate one of the ultrasonic beams with an audio signal so that the signal is recreated at the point of intersection. It is also possible to create an ultrasonic signal in this way.
Effects
By choosing the point of focus near to a wall or other hard surface it is possible to project a sound from the focus. If the focus is placed near to someone's ear, they will be able to hear the sound. However, at all other points no sound can be heard. The effect can be to create the impression of speaking inanimate objects and voices in the head.
Use
This is most useful as a psychotronic weapon |
