Ionophone
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An ionophone is a transducer for converting acoustic vibrations in plasma into an electrical signal, or for converting an electrical signal into acoustic vibrations in plasma:
It can be used for "generation of subsonic or ultrasonic waves as well as a microphone or loudspeaker"Ionovac.
Ionophones are to plasma what microphones and loudspeakers are to air.
Because the acoustic impedance of air and plasma are similar, an ionophone will work well as a microphone or loudspeaker when appropriately coupled to air.
Ionophones are more commonly used as loudspeakers than as microphones.
Unlike a loudspeaker having solid matter (cone) that moves to push air (or water in the case of an underwater speaker or hydrophone) sound is produced by plasma (ionized gas) in a spark gap.
Typically a high frequency (ultrasonic) electric arc is established, and then modulated by audio frequencies.
