The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for converting incident electromagnetic radiation into acoustic and/or ultrasonic waves, comprising: a) a 3D graphene structure comprising a number of graphene sheets for receiving the incident electromagnetic radiation and responding to the incident electromagnetic radiation by an acoustic and/or ultrasonic signal; b) an electro-acoustic transducer being coupled to the graphene sponge and receiving the acoustic and/or ultrasonic signal and outputting in response to the acoustic and/or ultrasonic signal an electric signal; and c) an evaluation unit being enable to detect the course of the intensity of the electric signal. It further discloses a method and an apparatus for converting incident acoustic and/or ultrasonic waves into electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a) a 3D graphene structure comprising a number of graphene sheets for receiving the incident acoustic and/or ultrasonic waves and responding to the incident acoustic and/or ultrasonic waves by electromagnetic radiation; and b) an electro-acoustic transducer being coupled to the 3D graphene structure outputting the acoustic and/or ultrasonic waves. The present invention allows simple, efficient and prompt conversion of high frequency electromagnetic radiation, in the range between MHz and 100 THz, into acoustic waves at frequencies between few Hz to more than 100 kHz and possibly vice versa.
Published in: "Patentscope".