Photon transducer
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsKenneth M. Walsh, Lynn T. Antonelli
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Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a photon transducer system is provided for obtaining information on acoustic signals within a fluid environment. The photon transducer system uses a laser-based Doppler interferometer located within a pressure release surface. The pressure release surface is formed by generating a gas pocket in the fluid, creating a boundary layer between the laser light source and the surrounding fluid. Laser light is reflected from the boundary and is detected by the interferometer to obtain the Doppler velocity of the pressure release surface. The pressure incident on the boundary can be determined from the measured velocity, providing information on the incident acoustic pressure.
Claims18
A photon transducer system for detecting acoustic signals within a fluid medium, the system comprising:
- a bubble generating means forming a boundary surface between the fluid medium and a gas within the bubble;
- and
- a laser interferometer located within the bubble, the interferometer measuring a velocity of the boundary surface by directing a laser beam against the surface and detecting a reflection of the beam, the velocity of the boundary surface corresponding to the acoustic signals.
A laser-based method for detecting acoustic signals in a fluid environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a laser-based Doppler interferometer;
- generating a bubble to form a boundary surface between the fluid and the interferometer;
- directing a laser beam from the interferometer to the boundary surface;
- receiving a reflected laser beam from the surface to measure a Doppler velocity of the boundary surface;
- and
- processing the velocity measurement to determine information on the acoustic signals impinging on the boundary surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.