Infrasound gun

An infrasound gun is a hypothetical equipment for the production of acoustic waves of high intensity with low frequencies below the human audible range (infrasound). Such acoustic waves can make humans fearful, cause internal injuries, or even kill them.

A infrasound gun would consist in principle of a long whistle (similar an organ pipe), into which compressed air is blown, generating infrasound waves of high intensity. The physical fundamentals of the function mode of an infrasound gun represent the natural frequency of firm bodies and large the resonance disaster.

Up to now it cannot be proven if an infrasound generator suitable for use as weapon was built. Infrasound guns would have enormous size; reductions of their dimensions would be difficult for physical reasons. Reports of possible incidents due to the use of infrasound waves, are therefore to be regarded at present with great care.

In a study from the year 1968 on the effects of very high sound pressures, the French researcher Vladimir Gavreau describes the effects of longer continuous high sound pressures on humans. It examined here however not infrasound, but very probably audible tones with a frequency of 196 cycles per second. At a volume of 160 decibels it describes its own impressions: "we noticed a painful resonance in the body; we had the feeling of everything vibrate in us if we spoke or us moved." Such a high sound pressure prevails a few meters from jet engines. Far assumed Gavreau that it could have caused internal bleedings, if the attempt had persisted longer than 5 minutes. It could not show a proof for such an effect however, since no such experiments had been accomplished. To publication of the scientific paper in the Science journal it came to the publication more differently sensationally opened article into daily papers over deadly effects of acoustic waves. Thus the Miami Herald wrote an article about Gavreau's article "sound ray developed as a killer", without considering the facts, with reference to the same scientist assumptions over it were later expressed that the infrasound produced by vehicles driving with open windows may be deadly.

Further, an infra sound gun is to have been developed in the Research Institute for Electroacoustics of the CNRS in Marseille under the direction of Gavreau according to different sources around 1964. Allegedly the infrasound waves of a fan in a new building of the Institute with the coworkers of symptoms such as headache, nausea, skin itching and vibration frost to have caused and to the development of several sound cannons to have in such a way inspired. On basis of this coincidental discovery equipment is to have been developed, which produced for the report after acoustic waves of 196 cycles per second and so that both to hurting and caused tear brought the gastro-intestinal tract of the coworkers in walls. A further sound cannon is to have been still larger and have worked with 37 cycles per second. Allegedly this is powerful enough to destroy buildings.

Popular culture
The Kate Bush song Experiment IV is about the testing of an intrasound weapon which goes awry, destroying its creators.

Literature
*Gavreau V., Infra Sons: Générateurs, Détecteurs, Propriétés physiques, Effets biologiques, in: Acustica, Vol .17, No. 1 (1966), S.1-10.

*Gavreau V., "Sons graves intenses et infrasons" in: Scientific Progres - la Nature (Sept. 1968) S. 336-344

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