Parametric reversal of nonlinear acoustic waves

A mechanism of parametric reversal of the ultrasonic field from a quasi-monochromatic radiator situated in a nonlinear acoustic medium is proposed and analyzed. The mechanism is based on the phonon-plasmon interaction in semiconductors with a high concentration of electron traps, when a sample is irradiated by a periodic sequence of short laser pulses. The spectrum of output signal and, correspondingly, the temporal profile of the spatially reversed wave are investigated as functions of the intensity and duration of pumping pulses. It is shown that the choice of pumping parameters allows one to control the spectrum of reversed wave and, in particular, closely reproduce the spatiotemporal structure of the original wave. The frequency matching of the nonlinear ultrasonic wave harmonics and the pump Fourier frequencies occurs automatically at a certain pulse repetition rate in this scheme.     

A semi-automatic processing technique for elastic-wave laboratory data

This paper addresses the problem of determining the onset of transient signals such as seismograms, acoustic emissions or ultrasonic signals. Usual manual techniques of onset-time picking are time consuming when numerous measurements are available. This may occur when dealing with (i) anisotropic rocks requiring many elastic wave velocities measurements in the laboratory, (ii) 4-D seismic field data or (iii) laboratory acoustic emissions data. We present a semi-automatic processing technique devoted to the study of case (i). It is based on ultrasonic signal analysis by wavelet transform and an onset-time picking procedure combining Akaike Information Criterion and cross-correlation method. The first step consists in extracting, from the whole experimentally recorded signal, the frequency component corresponding to the perturbation induced by a typical ultrasonic transducer in the laboratory. The second step is dedicated to the onset-time picking of the phase arrival in the extracted signal. The use of this processing technique based on mathematical arguments reduces human subjectivity. Main outcomes are: (i) increase of signal-to-noise ratio; (ii) measurement of elastic wave velocities at prescribed central frequency; (iii) drastic increase of efficiency in wave data processing; and (iv) increase in reliability (repeatability) of wave data acquisition.     

非线性波动方程的新数值迭代方法

提出了一种新的求解非线性波动方程的数值迭代法,它是一种半解析的方法.与完全的数值计算方法扰法相比,它能够考虑各阶谐波的相互作用,且能够满足能量守恒定律.用它研究了非线性声波在液体中的传播性质,结果表明,在微扰法适用的声强范围内迭代法也适用,在微扰法不适用的一个较宽的声强范围内迭代法依然适用.     

Nonlinear modulation technique for NDE with air-coupled ultrasound

The present study is aimed at expanding flexibility and application area of nonlinear acoustic modulation (NAM-) technique by combining the benefits of noncontact ultrasound excitation (remote locating and imaging of defects) with sensitivity of nonlinear methods in a new air-coupled NAM-version. A pair of focused air-coupled transducers was used to generate and receive (high-frequency) longitudinal or flexural waves in plate-like samples. Low-frequency (LF-) vibrations were excited with a shaker or a loudspeaker. Temporal and spectral analysis of the output signal revealed an extremely efficient nonlinear amplitude modulation and multiple frequency side-bands for sound transmission and flexural wave propagation through cracked defects. On the contrary, a negligible modulation was observed for large and medium scale inclusions and material inhomogeneities (linear defects). A new subharmonic mode of the NAM was observed at high excitation levels. It was also shown for the first time that nonlinear vibrations of cracks resulted in radiation of a very high-order harmonics (well above 100) of the driving excitation in air that enabled imaging of cracks remotely by registration their highly nonlinear "acoustic emission" with air-coupled transducers.     

一维非线性声波传播特性

针对一维非线性声波的传播问题进行了有限元仿真和实验研究. 首先推导了一维非线性声波方程的有限元形式, 含有高阶矩阵的非线性项导致声波具有波形畸变、谐波滋生、基频信号能量向高次谐波传递等非线性特性. 编制有限元程序对一维非线性声波进行了计算并对仿真得到的畸变非线性声波信号进行处理, 分析其传播性质和物理意义. 为验证有限元计算结果, 开展了水中的非线性声波传播的实验研究, 得到了不同输入信号幅度激励下和不同传播距离的畸变非线性声波信号. 然后对基波和二次谐波的传播性质进行详细讨论, 分析了二次谐波幅度与传播距离和输入信号幅度的变化关系及其意义, 拟合出二次谐波幅度随传播距离变化的方程并阐述了拟合方程的物理意义. 结果表明, 数值仿真信号及其频谱均与实验结果有较好的一致性, 证实计算方法和结果的正确性, 并提出了具有一定物理意义的二次谐波随传播距离变化的简单数学关系. 最后还对固体中的非线性声波传播性质进行了初步探讨. 本研究工作可为流体介质中的非线性声传播问题提供理论和实验依据.     

声发射衰减特性管道泄漏定位方法

声发射技术具有灵敏度高、实时性强、覆盖范围大等优点.泄漏产生的声发射波沿管壁传播会发生衰减,通过研究衰减系数与金属晶粒散射和热流损失的关系,建立准确的声发射能量衰减模型.在此基础上,针对声发射频带宽的特点对传统衰减定位模型进行改进,提出宽频带声发射源定位模型,该方法先通过实验确定泄漏信号频带,再将滤波后的信号经过小波包...     

The structure of vocal sounds produced with the mouth closed or with the mouth open in treefrogs

Frogs and toads mostly call with their mouths shut, unlike many other vertebrates. Sound is generated when air crosses the larynx, but there is no direct airflow to the external environment and radiation occurs at the skin. This study directly compares the acoustic output obtained from euthanized frogs with the mouth open against the output obtained with the mouth closed during activation of the larynx by airflow. With the mouth closed, the vocal sac was inflated and the acoustic energy was concentrated in the same harmonics as in the advertisement call, whereas with the mouth open, energy was spread in a wide range of harmonics. The acoustic output at the dominant frequency was more intense with the mouth closed than with the mouth open. More sound was radiated through the vocal sac and head than through the rest of the body. The spectral differences between open and closed mouth treatments matched the differences observed between natural advertisement calls, produced with the mouth closed, and distress calls, produced with the mouth open. By calling with the mouth closed, treefrogs can potentially produce advertisement calls with the energy concentrated in a narrower frequency range than with the mouth open.     

Nonlinear thickness-stretch vibration of thin-film acoustic wave resonators

We perform a theoretical analysis on nonlinear thickness-stretch free vibration of thin-film acoustic wave resonators made from AlN and ZnO. The third-order or cubic nonlinear theory by Tiersten is employed. Using Green’s identify, under the usual approximation of neglecting higher time harmonics, a perturbation analysis is performed from which the resonator frequency-amplitude relation is obtained. Numerical calculations are made. The relation can be used to determine the linear operating range of these resonators. It can also be used to compare with future experimental results to determine the relevant thirdand/or fourth-order nonlinear elastic constants.     

声管中的宽带脉冲法的水声材料吸声系数测量

现有的水声管吸声系数测量的脉冲法,由于水声管高度的限制,存在低频限制。提出了基于"后置""逆滤波的宽带脉冲声测试方法,在测量获得系统的传递函数后,换能器发射宽频短脉冲信号,然后对接收到的标准反射体和待测样本的反射信号分别进行逆滤波处理,恢复未经传递系统"污染"的反射信号,计算待测样品的反射系数和吸声系数。仿真实验分析了"后置"逆滤波相对于传统"前置"逆滤波的在低频测试方面优势。对橡胶材料样品进行了实验测试,无论在低频段还是中高频段,宽带脉冲法和CW (Continuous Wave)脉冲法测试结果均吻合较好。宽带脉冲法是一种有效的测试方法,其低频测试能达到350 Hz,能有效拓展低频测试范围。      

FDTD simulation of finite-amplitude pressure and temperature fields for biomedical ultrasound.

Full wave simulations provide a valuable tool for studying the spatial and temporal nature of an acoustic field. One method for producing such simulations is the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. This method uses discrete differences to approximate derivatives in the governing partial differential equations. We used the FDTD method to model the propagation of finite-amplitude sound in a homogeneous thermoviscous fluid. The calculated acoustic pressure field was then used to compute the transient temperature rise in the fluid; the heating results from absorption of acoustic energy by the fluid. As an example, the transient temperature field was calculated in biological tissue in response to a pulse of focused ultrasound. Enhanced heating of the tissue from finite-amplitude effects was observed. The excess heating was attributed to the nonlinear generation of higher-frequency harmonics which are absorbed more readily than the fundamental. The effect of nonlinear distortion on temperature rise in tissue was observed to range from negligible at 1 MPa source pressure to an 80% increase in temperature elevation at 10 MPa source pressure.     

基于密集波分复用技术的Bragg光栅水听器

论述了用Bragg光栅制作水听器的原理和意义,利用光纤通信的密集波分技术,实现声压信号动态解调.采用压力增敏材料对Bragg光栅封装来增加其响应灵敏度,为避免温度变化引起光栅交叉敏感,在室温23±1℃条件下进行试验,给出实验结果.实验表明:基元水听器的频率响应平坦度好,信号输出稳定.同时采用密集波分技术动态解调声信号方案是可行的.     

Improvements in intelligibility of noisy reverberant speech using a binaural subband adaptive noise-cancellation processing scheme.

This article reports on the performance of an adaptive subband noise cancellation scheme, which performs binaural preprocessing of speech signals for a hearing-aid application. The multi-microphone subband adaptive (MMSBA) signal processing scheme uses the least mean squares (LMS) algorithm in frequency-limited subbands. The use of subbands enables a diverse processing mechanism to be employed, splitting the two-channel wide-band signal into smaller frequency-limited subbands, which can be processed according to their individual signal characteristics. The frequency delimiting used a linear- or cochlear-spaced subband distribution. The effect of the processing scheme on speech intelligibility was assessed in a trial involving 15 hearing-impaired volunteers with moderate sensorineural hearing loss. The acoustic material consisted of speech and speech-shaped noise signals, generated using simulated and real-room acoustic environments, at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in the range -6 to +3 dB. The results show that the MMSBA scheme delivered average speech intelligibility improvements of 11.5%, with a maximum of 37.25%, in noisy reverberant conditions. There was no significant reduction in mean speech intelligibility due to processing, in any of the test conditions.     

光纤Fizeau干涉仪的声发射检测研究

验证了一种基于光纤Fizeau干涉仪的声发射传感器,可用于固体表面传播的超声波的检测.这种传感器的特点是能够精确地检测由固体表面传播的超声波产生的微弱振动.当超声波信号通过光纤传感器到达探测器时,干涉仪的输出光强度受到了超声信号的调制.通过检测干涉仪的输出光强度并利用Fourier变换,测得了超声信号的振幅和频率.对传感系统的相位调制特性进行了仿真,并对实验结果进行了分析.     

Acoustic Imaging Frequency Dynamics of Ferroelectric Domains by Atomic Force Microscopy

We report the acoustic imaging frequency dynamics of ferroelectric domains by low-frequency acoustic probe microscopy based on the commercial atomic force microscopy. It is found that ferroelectric domain could be firstly visualized at lower frequency down to 0.5 kHz by AFM-based acoustic microscopy. The frequency-dependent acoustic signal revealed a strong acoustic response in the frequency range from 7kHz to 10 kHz, and reached maximum at 8.1 kHz. The acoustic contrast mechanism can be ascribed to the different elastic response of ferroelectric microstructures to local elastic stress fields, which is induced by the acoustic wave transmitting in the sample when the piezoelectric transducer is vibrating and exciting acoustic wave under ac electric fields due to normal piezoelectric effects.     

Contrast harmonic imaging

The behavior of ultrasound contrast agents depends highly on the acoustic pressure of the insonified ultrasound wave. For low pressure the expansion and compression is linear to the pressure, for medium acoustic pressure nonlinear behavior starts to occur and for high pressures, but still in the diagnostic range transient scattering can be noticed, resulting in an enhanced scattering followed by a disappearance of the bubble. The nonlinear and transient regime can be utilized for imaging of the contrast agent in or nearby tissue. The magnitude of the nonlinear signal from the contrast has to compete with the nonlinear component of the ultrasound wave, which is generated during propagation. It is shown that contrast is superior to tissue when using low frequencies and imaging the third or fourth harmonic of the transmitted frequency.     

Identification approach of acoustic cavitation via frequency spectrum of sound pressure wave signals in numerical simulation

In a sono-reactor, complex ultrasound pressure wave signal can be detected, containing multiple information related to acoustic cavitation. In this present study, acoustic cavitation in a cylinder is investigated numerically. Via Fast Fourier Transfer (FFT), the sound pressure signals from sonotrode emitting surface are separated into harmonics, sub/ultra-harmonics and cavitation white noise: (1) the appearance of harmonics proved the non-linear propagation of ultrasound, (2) at the vibratory amplitude from 5∼20μm, only harmonics exists in the frequency spectra, corresponding to expansion and compression of non-condensable gas (NCG), (3) at the vibratory amplitude range of 30∼50μm, the occurrence of sub/ultra-harmonics demonstrated gaseous cavitation occurred, and (4) at the vibratory amplitude higher than 55μm, cavitation white noise arose, pointing out the initiation of vaporous cavitation. Based on the combination of frequency spectra and cavitation zones distribution, the acoustic cavitation state in water liquid is determined.     

大功率宽频带G波段三次谐波放大器设计研究

针对G波段真空电子器件对大功率、宽频带信号源的需求,开展了G波段三次谐波放大器研究。该放大器利用E波段行波管非线性互作用中的三次谐波电流,通过级联谐波互作用段实现G波段电磁波放大。高性能、实用化G波段宽频带大功率源的设计方案采用非半圆弯曲波导边界折叠波导,利用微波管模拟器套装（MTSS）软件对G波段三次谐波放大器进行模拟优化,结果显示,器件在15 GHz范围内可实现谐波输出功率＞3.6 W,转换增益＞33.3 dB,电子效率＞0.36%。与其他工作在该频段的小型化太赫兹辐射源相比,谐波放大器在输出功率和带宽方面性能优越,为后续开展G波段三次谐波放大器的实际研制工作提供了设计基础。     

高频聚焦超声声场和温度场的仿真研究

为探究临床常用的7 MHz高频聚焦超声在多层生物组织中的声传播以及毫秒级时间内的生物传热规律问题,基于Westervelt方程和Pennes传热方程,使用有限元方法建立高频聚焦超声辐照多层组织的非线性热黏性声传播及传热模型。首先分析了线性模型和非线性模型之间的差异,然后在非线性模型下探究换能器的参数对声场和温度场的影响。仿真结果显示：在7 MHz频率下,当换能器输出声功率超过5 W时,声波传播的非线性效应不可忽视(p <0.05);当声功率从5 W增大到15 W时,非线性模型与线性模型预测的温度偏差从20%增加到34.703%;高频聚焦超声波的非线性行为比低频更加显著,基频能量向高次谐波转移的程度增大,声功率为10 W和15 W时4次谐波与基波之比分别达到7.33%和12.12%;高频换能器参数的改变对组织中声场和温度场分布的影响较大,换能器焦距从12 mm减小到11.2 mm,焦点处最高温度增加了77%。结果表明,7 MHz聚焦超声的非线性声传播需要考虑到4次谐波的影响。该文提出的多层组织非线性仿真模型可为高频聚焦超声换能器参数优化及制定安全、有效的术前治疗方案提供理论参考。     

Acousto-optical spectrum analysis of ultra-high-frequency radio-wave analogue signals with an improved resolution exploiting the collinear acoustic wave heterodyning

This article is devoted to the problem of improving the frequency resolution inherent in a parallel acousto-optical spectrum analysis via involving an additional nonlinear phenomenon into the data processing. In so doing, we examine possible application of the wave heterodyning to the real-time scale acousto-optical analysis of the frequency spectrum belonging to ultra-high-frequency radio-wave signals peculiar, for example, for radio-astronomy. The nonlinear process of wave heterodyning is realized through providing a co-directional collinear interaction of the longitudinal acoustic waves of finite amplitudes. This process, which is beforehand studied theoretically and investigated experimentally via the acousto-optical technique as well, allows us either to improve the frequency resolution of spectrum analysis at a given frequency range or to increase by a few times the current frequencies of radio-wave signals under processing. The first step along this way is connected with the experimental modeling of the acoustic wave heterodyning in solids via exploitation of the specific acousto-optical cell based on a liquid, which allows the simplest realization of a cell with the needed properties. Then, these theoretical and practical findings are used in our experimental studies aimed at creating a new type of acousto-optical cells, which are able to improve the resolution inherent in acousto-optical spectrum analyzer operating over ultra-high-frequency radio-wave signals. In particular, the possibility of upgrading the frequency resolution through the acoustic wave heterodyning is experimentally demonstrated using the cell made of lead molybdate crystal. The obtained results demonstrate practical efficiency of the novel approach presented.     

Calibration of ultrasonic hydrophone probes up to 100 MHz using time gating frequency analysis and finite amplitude waves

A number of ultrasound imaging systems employs harmonic imaging to optimize the trade off between resolution and penetration depth and center frequencies as high as 15 MHz are now used in clinical practice. However, currently available measurement tools are not fully adequate to characterize the acoustic output of such nonlinear systems primarily due to the limited knowledge of the frequency responses beyond 20 MHz of the available piezoelectric hydrophone probes. In addition, ultrasound hydrophone probes need to be calibrated to eight times the center frequency of the imaging transducer. Time delay spectrometry (TDS) is capable of providing transduction factor of the probes beyond 20 MHz, however its use is in practice limited to 40 MHz. This paper describes a novel approach termed time gating frequency analysis (TGFA) that provides the transduction factor of the hydrophone probes in the frequency domain and significantly extends the quasi-continuous calibration of the probes up to 60 MHz. The verification of the TGFA data was performed using TDS calibration technique (up to 40 MHz) and a nonlinear calibration method (up to 100 MHz). The nonlinear technique was based on a novel wave propagation model capable of predicting the true pressure-time waveforms at virtually any point in the field. The spatial averaging effects introduced by the finite aperture hydrophones were also accounted for. TGFA calibration results were obtained for different PVDF probes, including needle and membrane designs with nominal diameters from 50 to 500 micro m. The results were compared with discrete calibration data obtained from an independent national laboratory and the overall uncertainty was determined to be +/-1.5 dB in the frequency range 40-60 MHz and less than +/-1 dB below 40 MHz.