Optical method for two-dimensional ultrasonic detection

Two-dimensional detection of ultrasonic waves is based on pressure-induced changes of optical reflectance at a glass-liquid interface, imaged with a time-gated video camera. The method is used to record optoacoustic waves generated after irradiation of optically absorbing targets with 6 ns long laser pulses. Measurements of absolute pressure values with high temporal and spatial resolution (in the range of 10 ns and 10 mu m, respectively) is demonstrated. The sensitivity is varied between 0.19% and 0.81% gray level modulation per bar. The detector plane is optically transparent, making it possible to irradiate the sample through the detector without disturbing the acoustic measurement. Two-dimensional recording of ultrasonic waves is ideally suited for the analysis of acoustic emission from small sources and for optoacoustic imaging of optical absorption differences in an opaque material. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)03834-6].