Method and apparatus for visualizing ultrasonic waves in liquid-solid systems

Abstract

The sound field of ultrasonic pulses emitted in a liquid-solid system is irradiated with polarized light, and the ultrasonic pulses in the liquid and in the solid are visualized simultaneously by detecting deflected light arising from a change in refractive index of the liquid caused by presence of the ultrasonic pulses, and polarized light arising from the birefringence in the solid caused by presence of the ultrasonic pulses. By quantitatively measuring the sound field, waveform, etc. of the ultrasonic pulses from an ultrasonic probe in the liquid by the schlieren method and in the solid by the photoelastic method simultaneously, it is possible to visualize the ultrasonic pulses in the liquid and solid at the same time. This enables ready measurement of the direction of emission of the ultrasonic pulses from the probe, the ultrasonic wavelength, the propagation velocity, etc., thus making it possible to perform a comprehensive performance evaluation and examination of sound field for various types of probes, inclusive of the water-submersible type.

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