By suitable adjustments of the amplitudes and phases of the three acoustic fields in a three-axis acoustic levitator, the orientation of an aspherical levitated object can be controlled, and the degree of its asphericity can be measured. The orientation-and-measurement technique can be used to manipulate workpieces during containerless processing or to measure the approach to desired asphericity in small objects like targets for laser-fusion experiments. NASA Tech Brief. 8.5" X 11"
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