Nonlinear characterization with burst excitation of 1-3 piezocomposite transducers

Ultrasonic transducers made with 1-3 connectivity piezocomposites are frequently used in Medical applications and nondestructive testing. When the transducer is used for special applications as, for instance air-coupled transmission, it is necessary to compensate for the high difference of acoustic impedance between transducer and medium using high amplitude pulses to generate high acoustic signal. Thus, the nonlinear behavior of the transducer must be taken into account in similar application conditions. The newly developed method, which performs the nonlinear characterization with burst signal excitation near the thickness resonance frequency, is based on the measure of the current as well as the vibration velocity of the piezocomposite transducer. The current of the stationary response is measured before the end of the burst signal excitation. Burst excitation enables us to measure the nonlinear characterization without producing overheating in the transducers. The amplitude level dependence of mechanical losses tandelta(m) and the stiffness increases |Deltac/c(0)| have been studied, as well as the velocity dependence of a point of the transducer, measured with a laser vibrometer. In this method, the power level applied to the transducers can be higher than other nonlinear measurement methods, providing measurements of high accuracy.     

Characteristics of acoustic emissions during nucleation of superheated droplets

Superheated droplet nucleation and subsequent bubble oscillation produces an acoustic pressure pulse that contains valuable information about the nucleation process. Spectral analysis of the pressure pulse indicates excitation of different modes of bubble oscillations in the nucleation process. In the present study it is observed that gamma induced droplet nucleation excites higher modal oscillations and also emits higher intensity acoustic emission compared to that of spontaneous nucleations.     

一种非均匀厚度压电复合材料片宽带换能器的实验研究

本文利用１－３压电复合材料作为换能元件，通过特殊工艺制备成一面是平面，一面是球面的非均匀厚度压电振子，这种压电晶片加上激励电压后，不同厚度处以不同的共振频率振动，从而使压电晶片的振动频带加宽，本文介绍了这种压电晶片的机电特性，以及用这种压电晶片制成的宽带聚焦超声换能器的脉冲回波特性，此外，文中还对这种换能器与均匀厚度压电晶片换能器的脉冲回波特性进行了比较。     

1-3型压电复合材料

1－3型压电复合材料是目前研究和应用得比较广泛的一种压电材料．本文简述了这种压电复合材料的理论模型、制作方法和实验结果；指出除了圆形PZT压电材料所具有的径向模和厚度模以外，1－3型压电复合材料还具有横向结构模．本文介绍了这种压电复合材料的特点，如低声阻抗、低介电常数、高静水压压电常数以及PZT相分布的可控制性等．这些特点有利于改善压电复合材料换能器的时间响应和空间响应．     

压电陶瓷复合换能器固有频率的有限差分法*

为丰富换能器固有频率的研究理论，以及提供一种新的计算方法供工程人员选择，提出了计算其固有频率的有限差分法。以由径向极化的压电陶瓷圆管与金属预应力管沿径向复合而成的二元压电陶瓷复合换能器为例，建立并推导了其向振动的数学模型及其有限差分形式，给出了换能器径向振动的特征方程。利用MTALAB对计算实例的径向振动的固有频率进行编程计算，理论计算结果与已有实验结果符合很好，验证了有限差分法计算压电陶瓷复合换能器固有频率的可行性及准确性。通过仿真计算，给出了换能器径向振动固有频率与其结构尺寸的影响关系：换能器径向振动的固有频率随压电陶瓷圆管内径的增大而降低，随换能器壁厚比的增大而降低。该文所建立的换能器径向振动固有频率的有限差分法同样适用于结构形式相近的换能器及其他元器件。     

渔业声学回波散射测量系统的宽频带换能器

针对目前渔业声学宽频带回波散射测量系统采用多个不同频带的换能器合成、结构复杂且不方便携带的缺点,本文提出一种使用低机械品质因数、高谐振频率的积层压电致动器作为核心压电元件的"朗之万"型宽带水声换能器。测试结果表明,该换能器适用的频率范围为20 kHz~150 kHz,在三个渔业声学常用频率38 kHz、70 kHz、120 kHz下的-3 dB波束宽度分别为20.0°、11.5°、5.0°,可以满足对常见渔业资源种类的宽带声学回波散射特征的测量要求。     

Signal transducers: terra incognita of molecular biology

In this article four cases of signal transduction in biology are discussed, ranging from a case which we do understand in molecular detail (genetic induction) through two cases where the fog may be beginning to clear (vertebrate vision and bacterial chemotaxis) to a case where we are still struggling to define the participants of the play (the avoidance response of the fungus Phycomyces).—Although most of the facts presented are not brand new, the juxtaposition of them is perhaps unconventional and may be of interest at least by way of outlining an area of research of some promise. No doubt modern concepts and technologies of chemical and physical research will play a great role in this borderline area between a variety of fields, presenting great challenges to the ingenuity and versatility of the experimenter.     

Seeking connectivity between engineered proteins and transducers: connection for glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins on surface plasmon resonance devices

The affinity bond between glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) is exploited as a means for ‘connectivity’ for engineered proteins at a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) surface. If the protein of interest is recombinantly fused to GST the resulting fusion protein can be linked specifically to GSH self-assembled on a gold surface. Classical self-assembly and the potential assisted self-assembly were compared. The classical method produced unstable layers. Applying a potential during the assembly process significantly improved stability and reproducibility. Suitable GSH layers could be deposited at potentials >0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl, where the reductive desorption showed no desorption peaks between −0.85 and −1.1 V. The GSH-functionalised surface was tested for applicability with the plant cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) Cdc2aAm recombinantly fused to GST. The fusion protein maintained both the affinity for glutathione and the activity for cyclin binding of its parent proteins. SPR signals due to the interaction of Cdc2aAm with a cyclin-binding-site specific antibody were confirmed by ELISA. In this instance, this test system opens up the possibility of studying the cell cycle machinery, but more widely the issues concerned with maintaining the correct conformations of proteins to achieve protein arrays can be developed from this method.