Gregory W. Swift Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
A physicist whose research developed thermoacoustics as a way to convert heat into sound and sound into cooling. A sound wave carries oscillations of pressure, temperature and displacement; arranging heat exchange at the appropriate stages lets those oscillations operate a heat engine or refrigerator. His theoretical and experimental work helped produce devices that transfer energy through an oscillating gas with few moving mechanical parts.[ref]
Harnessing the Thermoacoustic Effect by the US Department of Energy. Harnessing the Thermoacoustic Effect: Swift’s thermodynamic research, prototype engines and refrigerators