Design passive acoustic structures that steer sound by frequency.
Explore acoustic rainbow emitter concepts with an interactive browser-based design workspace. Sketch geometry, choose a target pattern, and watch the directivity update in real time.
Educational concept tool · not a certified solver.
What is an Acoustic Rainbow Emitter?
A small passive scattering structure placed around a sound source can redirect different frequencies into different angles — the same way a prism splits white light into a rainbow, but for audible and ultrasonic waves.
The structures are single-material, sound-hard features — no electronics, no moving parts. By carefully shaping the geometry, you can produce broadband spatio-spectral emission patterns: low frequencies steered one way, high frequencies steered another, and everything in between mapped along a deterministic angular fan.
This designer is a free, browser-based playground for that idea. Draw geometry, pick a target pattern, and explore how shape choices change the radiated field.
Five ideas behind the tool
Passive scattering geometry
Single-material, sound-hard features arranged around the source — no electronics or transducers.
Monopolar source model
Treat the emitter as a phasor monopole; superpose scattered contributions from each shape.
Frequency-dependent directivity
Inspect how the radiation pattern morphs across your chosen sweep, kHz by kHz.
Target-field optimization inspiration
Match a desired angle-vs-frequency objective with a fast, surrogate optimizer.
Export for FEM/BEM validation
Take JSON, SVG, CSV and HTML reports out for full-wave simulation and lab testing.
Exploration areas
From sketch to validation
- 1
Draw geometry
Sketch blobs, rectangles and arcs on a 10×10 cm canvas.
- 2
Choose target pattern
Upward redirector, rainbow, λ-splitter, or your own.
- 3
Run surrogate simulation
Phasor superposition runs live in your browser.
- 4
Inspect directivity
3D hemisphere, top/side polar, and frequency–angle heatmap.
- 5
Export geometry & results
JSON, SVG, CSV, PNG screenshots and an HTML report.
- 6
Validate full-wave
Take exports into FEM/BEM solvers and lab measurements.
Where the idea comes from
Inspired by Christiansen, Fernandez-Grande, and Sigmund, “Morphogenesis of sound creates acoustic rainbows,” Science Advances, 2025.
This tool is not affiliated with the paper authors. It is an independent educational and concept-design interface.
Ready to design a rainbow?
Open the workspace and start sketching — no account, no install.