New acoustooptic effect: Constant high diffraction efficiency in wide range of acoustic power

A new effect, viz., acoustooptic Bragg diffraction without the overmodulation mode, in which the efficiency of the Bragg order attains its maximal value (close to 100%) upon an increase in the intensity of an acoustic wave and then remains practically unchanged, is predicted theoretically and observed experimentally. The effect takes place in the case of considerable bending of phase fronts of the acoustic field in the acoustooptic diffraction plane and attains its maximal value at a relatively low frequency of sound, a small width of a piezoelectric transducer, strong acoustic anisotropy of the medium, and a large distance between the light beam and the piezoelectric transducer.     

Effect of the spatial structure of an acoustic field on Bragg’s acoustooptic diffraction under strong acoustic anisotropy conditions

Bragg’s acoustooptic diffraction in an acoustically anisotropic medium is considered taking into account the two-dimensional spatial diffraction structure of the acoustic beam. The conditions are determined under which reverse transfer of optical power from the diffracted to the transmitted beam in the regime of 100% efficiency of diffraction is considerably suppressed. It is shown that this effect is due to diffraction bending of wave fronts of the acoustic beam in the acoustooptic diffraction plane. The problem of optimization of the piezoelectric transducer size and the spatial position of the input light beam is solved using the criterion of the minimal required power of the acoustic field. The results of simulation in a wide range of the acoustooptic interaction parameters for a Gaussian light beam are reported. The correctness of the model is confirmed experimentally. Recommendations for designers of acoustooptic devices are formulated.     

Acousto-optic Bragg diffraction in paratellurite by the sidelobes of the spatial radiation spectrum of an acoustic transducer

Acousto-optic Bragg diffraction in paratellurite is investigated within the two first diffraction orders for the case of diffraction by the sidelobes of the spatial radiation spectrum of an acoustic transducer. One of the diffraction orders is due to anisotropic diffraction, and the other, to isotropic diffraction. Such a diffraction regime is achieved when the diffraction plane is inclined toward the optical axis of the crystal. For light with a wavelength of 0.63 × 10^–4 cm diffracted by a “slow” sound wave with a frequency of 26 MHz, the effect manifests itself when the angle between the acousto-optic diffraction plane and the optical axis of paratellurite is ~3°. The effect is experimentally verified. The diffraction efficiency is 20% for each of the diffraction orders for a microwave signal of 8 V at the transducer.     

经颅超声聚焦方法和声场特性研究

基于高分辨的CT数据建立了非均匀颅骨仿真模型,该模型引入了颅骨的声衰减系数,深入研究和分析了声波时间反转法和超声相控阵法在颅脑中的聚焦方法及效果。颅骨具有较强的声波衰减特性,使用时间反转聚焦时需要进行幅度补偿,对于0.7MHz的频率信号,幅度补偿后的时间反转聚焦声场主瓣宽度窄、旁瓣低,焦点处声场比无幅度补偿的时间反转法提高8.86dB,比超声相控阵聚焦法提高7.89dB,具有很好的空间聚焦精度和聚焦效率。研究了颅骨衰减系数、声场焦点位置、声波频率、换能器阵列位置和方位等参数对聚焦声场的影响,结果表明,幅度补偿时间反转法比相控阵法具有更低的旁瓣,且高频时的聚焦效果比相控阵好,相控阵聚焦对换能器阵列的位置和方位比较敏感,而时间反转经颅超声聚焦对声传播路径和入射角具有更高的鲁棒性。      

Dependence of sonochemical luminescence on various sound fields

To understand the effect of the sound field on sonochemical luminescence, the exact sound pressure must be determined in each field. In this study it was determined by the Shlieren method, which measures the sound pressure without mixing the sound fields. We compared the efficiency of the sonochemical luminescence in three different ways: changing the diameter of the transducer, combining two transducers to obtain crossed propagating directions and surrounding the sound field by a glass cylinder. In the last case cylinders with various sizes were studied. We found that (i) at the same sound pressure, the larger transducer induces stronger luminescence per unit volume, (ii) driving two transducers produces stronger luminescence than the sum of each transducer and (iii) a glass cylinder surrounding the sound field induces stronger luminescence.     

Simulation of sound field in a tissue medium generated by a concave spherically annular transducer

The concave spherically annular transducer is regarded as a negative and a positive concave spherical transducer, and the spheroidal beam equation is used to simulate the linear and nonlinear sound field in a tissue medium generated by this transducer. It is found that the acoustic focus of the ring does not coincide with the acoustic focus of its central part. If the width of the ring increases, its acoustic focus will move toward the geometric focus and the amplitudes of nonlinear harmonics will increase obviously. If there are several coaxial rings placed on the concave spherical surface, more than one peak will appear along the axial direction for the fundamental, and high harmonics focus better. The distribution of sound field will change with the number and the excited signals of rings, so it maybe is a potential approach to treat locally big tumors.     

超声吸收体物理参数对红外热成像测量高强度聚焦超声声场的影响

超声吸收体的物理参数对利用水听器和红外热成像技术的高强度聚焦超声(High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound,HIFU)声场测量结果具有重要影响。为了探索超声吸收体的物理参数(密度、声速、衰减系数、热扩散系数、定压比热容)对测量结果的影响规律,本文根据层状模型计算出相同声源功率输出时不同物理参数对应的超声吸收体内部声场和热场,利用有限差分法计算出超声吸收体表面在辐照过程中的温度变化;利用基于水听器和红外热成像技术的聚焦声场测量方法测量出焦域内不同位置上声场特征值(轴线声强和-6 dB声束宽度),与通过理论计算得到的声源在纯水中声场特征值进行比较,分析了不同物理参数对测量结果的影响。超声吸收体的声、热学参数中除了声速外,其它物理参数的变化引起声场特征值的测量造成最大相对差异率小于15%。因为声波传播速度的改变会导致超声吸收体内部热场分布变化,使测量结果与理论计算值有较大偏差,其中-6 dB声束宽度和轴线声强最大相对差异率为95.37%和69.97%。因此在选择超声吸收体的声、热学参数时应重点关注声波在吸收体内声速的影响。超声吸收体的声学参数与水的声学参数相近时,可以在焦域内获得较好的测量结果。      

变厚度聚焦换能器对声焦域轴向长度影响的研究*

针对不同厚度的病变组织,改变声焦域轴向长度能提高高强度聚焦超声在临床治疗过程中的安全性和有效性。基于多频超声波叠加原理,该文提出了变厚度(多频)聚焦换能器,并设计了两种类型变厚度聚焦换能器。根据瑞利积分法推导了变厚度聚焦换能器声场,计算和分析了变厚度聚焦换能器的声焦域轴向长度,并与等厚度(单频)聚焦换能器声焦域轴向长度进行对比。结果显示,变厚度聚焦换能器中心到边缘的厚度变化趋势与声焦域轴向长度变化相关,中间薄两边厚换能器声焦域轴向长度缩短,中间厚两边薄换能器声焦域轴向长度变长,且实验验证了理论的正确性。研究结果可为变厚度聚焦换能器声场研究和高强度聚焦超声的临床治疗提供参考。     

圆柱类构件超声相控阵聚焦模型

在利用平面相控阵超声换能器对圆柱类构件检测时,受曲界面结构引起的入射波和回波时延的影响,扫描声束的波阵面产生弯曲,在利用传统迭代遍历算法计算延迟时间时效率低,无法发挥相控阵换能器检测优势。针对上述问题,建立了一种基于圆柱类构件特征和耦合介质特性的超声相控阵扫描成像的聚焦模型。该模型基于换能器、耦合介质、圆柱类构件材料特性和几何关系以及声线模型和折射定律,建立了耦合介质及被检构件的声速、曲面曲率半径、阵列与曲面间的距离等关联的延迟时间聚焦控制模型。利用该模型计算出的延时时间,对各阵元发射时间进行控制,从而实现扫描声束的聚焦。该文以液体和有机玻璃制介质楔块为例,对圆柱钢曲面的相控阵声束聚焦进行了仿真实验,结果表明该文方法计算效率显著提升,同时声束可以在预设位置实现聚焦,验证了该模型在计算效率上的优势与有效性。     

Parabolic equation for nonlinear acoustic wave propagation in inhomogeneous moving media

A new parabolic equation is derived to describe the propagation of nonlinear sound waves in inhomogeneous moving media. The equation accounts for diffraction, nonlinearity, absorption, scalar inhomogeneities (density and sound speed), and vectorial inhomogeneities (flow). A numerical algorithm employed earlier to solve the KZK equation is adapted to this more general case. A two-dimensional version of the algorithm is used to investigate the propagation of nonlinear periodic waves in media with random inhomogeneities. For the case of scalar inhomogeneities, including the case of a flow parallel to the wave propagation direction, a complex acoustic field structure with multiple caustics is obtained. Inclusion of the transverse component of vectorial random inhomogeneities has little effect on the acoustic field. However, when a uniform transverse flow is present, the field structure is shifted without changing its morphology. The impact of nonlinearity is twofold: it produces strong shock waves in focal regions, while, outside the caustics, it produces higher harmonics without any shocks. When the intensity is averaged across the beam propagating through a random medium, it evolves similarly to the intensity of a plane nonlinear wave, indicating that the transverse redistribution of acoustic energy gives no considerable contribution to nonlinear absorption. Published in Russian in Akusticheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2006, Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 725–735. This article was translated by the authors.     

球壳换能器电声效率测量方法及声场特性分析

在高强度聚焦超声治疗系统中,换能器的电声效率是治疗剂量控制中的重要参数,其在焦域附近的声场分布同样重要。该研究以球壳聚焦换能器为研究对象,基于辐射力天平法与平面扫描法进行输出声功率的测量,同时测量其激励电功率后计算得到电声效率,并就其声场特性分布以及存在的非线性传播现象进行了简单阐述。两种测量方法测得的电声效率在声学计量的误差允许范围内,实验结果表明两种方法在测量球壳聚焦换能器输出声功率时具备较好的一致性。     

多层介质中超声相控阵声场仿真*

由于良好的声束偏转与聚焦特性,超声相控阵已经广泛应用于多层固体介质的缺陷检测。当超声束经过多层介质时,由于反射、透射以及模式转换的存在,多种声束存在于这种结构中,使得声场分析变得复杂。为了提高多层介质检测的准确性,有必要对超声声场的分布规律进行深入地了解。该文结合高斯声束等效点源模型以及射线追踪法,给出了相控阵声源在多层固体介质中激发声场的仿真方法,并且模拟计算了一维线型相控阵在楔块-铝-黄铜-钢四层固体介质中的辐射声场。通过对不同延时法则的计算,实现了声波在这种复杂介质中的偏转与聚焦,进而研究了不同焦点处聚焦声场的分布。结果表明:相控阵方法能使聚焦点处的声场幅值增大,能量集中,提高了检测分辨率;不同聚焦点处声场聚焦效果不同,实际检测时应根据检测区域结构及位置特点,合理放置相控阵换能器。与瑞利积分法的比较表明,该文的仿真方法适用于多层介质相控阵声场的计算。     

Simulation of the acoustic field emitted from medical linear transducer in a heterogeneous tissue

A numerical model is developed to simulate the acoustic field in heterogeneous tissue from a medical linear transducer.The coupled full-wave equation for nonlinear ultrasound is solved using a staggered-grid finite difference time domain method.The distribution of acoustic pressure and power in human abdominal wall with heterogeneities in sound speed,density,and nonlinear parameter are obtained.Compared with homogeneous medium,when sound speed in tissue is uniform and density unchanged,the acoustic energy decreases only1.8 dB in the focal region;when density in tissue is uniform and sound speed unchanged,the energy decreases 3.8 dB in the focal region,which is almost the same as heterogeneous tissue.Thus,the primary factor of the aberration of focused beam is the heterogeneous distribution of the tissue sound speed.     

磁致伸缩换能器辐射板形状对声场分布的影响

磁致伸缩换能器可作为热声制冷机的声源装置,辐射板的形状直接影响声压输出效率,从而影响制冷效果。为提高换能器工作效率、减小换能器体积,辐射板需在Terfenol-D棒的激励下产生大振幅、高频率的活塞振型。针对这一问题,应用ATILA软件分析了磁致伸缩换能器辐射板形状对谐振腔振动幅频特性的影响以及对谐振腔内声场分布的影响。结果表明:相同激励条件下,凹球面辐射板出现活塞振型时振幅最大,对应谐振腔中声压幅值最高;谐振腔端面形状为凹球面时,具有聚焦声压幅值的作用;端面形状为凹发射端-凸反射端组合的谐振腔内声压幅值最高。以上结论为合理设计辐射板、谐振腔两端面组合形状提供了参考。     

非均匀组织医学超声发射声场仿真

为了分析医学超声在非均匀组织中的分布特性,建立了超声发射声场的计算模型。采用交错网格有限差分法对耦合超声非线性方程进行数值求解,获得了声速、密度及非线性参数非均匀分布情况下人体腹壁组织内的超声声场分布数据。同均匀介质相比:当声速均匀而密度非均匀时,声束仍聚焦良好,焦点处声能下降了1.8 dB;当密度均匀而声速非均匀时,声束发散严重,焦点处声能下降了3.8 dB,下降程度与非均匀组织接近。组织声速在空间分布的非均匀性是导致聚焦声束能量分布畸变的主要原因。      

Acousto-optic interaction in a non-homogeneous acoustic field excited by a wedge-shaped transducer

The article is devoted to theoretical analysis of light diffraction in a non-homogeneous acoustic field created by a wedge-shaped piezoelectric transducer. Relationships describing electrical, acoustic and acousto-optic properties of the acousto-optic cell are derived in the approximation of a small thickness of the piezoelectric plate. Principal characteristics of acousto-optic interaction are examined such as dependences of the light diffraction efficiency on the phase mismatch and the acoustic wave amplitude. It is shown that the acoustic field has a complicated amplitude-phase structure changing with the acoustic frequency. It is demonstrated that the diffraction efficiency in the Bragg regime can approach 100% in spite of a noticeable phase mismatch. The appropriate optimal values of ultrasound power and incidence angles of light are found.     

时间反演聚焦经颅磁声电刺激仿真与实验研究*

无创脑神经调控技术是生物医学领域的研究热点,经颅磁声电刺激是利用静磁场和声场的耦合而产生的感应电场作用于神经组织,对大脑的目标位置进行刺激和调控的一项技术。颅骨的存在使超声在传播过程中发生相位畸变和幅值衰减,聚焦区域偏离,难以实现精准聚焦。该文基于时间反演法,模拟颅内点声源发射脉冲以及超声传播过程,计算各个阵元接收到的时间差,按照后到先发的原则发射脉冲进行聚焦刺激。与传统相控阵聚焦相比,焦点偏移现象基本得到解决,焦域横向、纵向分辨率均有所提高,提高了声束聚焦精度和感应电场峰值。通过搭建实验平台,将两种聚焦方法所测得的声场归一化处理,验证了时间反演法能补偿焦点偏移,并通过实验证实了超声换能器声场和产生感应电场分布存在较高的一致性。基于真实颅脑结构的虚拟点源时间反演聚焦可以实现无创、精准、灵活的经颅磁声电刺激,有助于推动精准神经调控技术的发展。     

Measurements of harmonic profiles of a bounded ultrasonic beam in a liquid medium

The acoustic field of a bounded finite-amplitude beam is governed by competing mechanisms such as medium non-linearity, interference, and attenuation. An analytic determination of the distribution of sonic energy in the individual harmonic components is often not reliable; consequently an experimental mapping of those harmonic components may be more appropriate. An experimental method is presented here which involves a miniature hydrophone probe which has been frequency calibrated for each harmonic component using a light diffraction technique. Measurements (made across the sound field) of the acoustic amplitude of the first three harmonic components are presented.     

基于超声相控阵的环焊缝缺陷检测方法研究

针对传统超声探头焦距固定,检测位置的改变就要更换相应焦距的探头而影响检测效率的问题,提出一种基于超声相控阵换能器的环焊缝缺陷检测方法。而超声相控阵具有电子偏转和电子聚焦特性,能在不移动的情况下发射偏转聚焦超声束,有效地解决了上述问题。首先基于超声相控线阵换能器的声场特点,采用数值分析方法,研究了影响声束偏转聚焦性能的几个主要参数。然后给出了与超声相控阵换能器相连接的多通道数据采集系统结构。介绍了单通道声信号的硬件结构及相应的信号处理方法,实现了对换能器中单个阵元的精确延时的控制。实验结果表明,优化设计的超声相控线阵换能器具有较高的检测精度和检测效率。     

Nonlinear absorption in biological tissue for high intensity focused ultrasound

In recent years the propagation of the high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in biological tissue is an interesting area due to its potential applications in non-invasive treatment of disease. The base principle of these applications is the heat effect generated by ultrasound absorption. In order to control therapeutic efficiency, it is important to evaluate the heat generation in biological tissue irradiated by ultrasound. In his paper, based on the Khokhlov-Zabolotkaya-Kuznetsov (KZK) equation in frequency-domain, the numerical simulations of nonlinear absorption in biological tissues for high intensity focused ultrasound are performed. We find that ultrasound thermal transfer effect will be enhanced with the increasing of initial acoustic intensity due to the high harmonic generation. The concept of extra absorption factor is introduced to describe nonlinear absorption in biological tissue for HIFU. The theoretical results show that the heat deposition induced by the nonlinear theory can be nearly two times as large as that predicated by linear theory. Then, the influence of the diffraction effect on the position of the focus in HIFU is investigated. It is shown that the sound focus moves toward the transducer compared with the geometry focus because of the diffraction of the sound wave. The position of the maximum heat deposition is shifted to the geometry focus with the increase of initial acoustic intensity because the high harmonics are less diffraction. Finally, the temperature in the porcine fat tissue changing with the time is predicated by Pennes' equation and the experimental results verify the nonlinear theoretical prediction.