Single-transducer dual-frequency ultrasound generation to enhance acoustic cavitation

Dual- or multiple-frequency ultrasound stimulation is capable of effectively enhancing the acoustic cavitation effect over single-frequency ultrasound. Potential application of this sonoreactor design has been widely proposed such as on sonoluminescence, sonochemistry enhancement, and transdermal drug release enhancement. All currently available sonoreactor designs employed multiple piezoelectric transducers for generating single-frequency ultrasonic waves separately and then these waves were mixed and interfered in solutions. The purpose of this research is to propose a novel design of generating dual-frequency ultrasonic waves with single piezoelectric elements, thereby enhancing acoustic cavitation. Macroscopic bubbles were detected optically, and they were quantified at either a single-frequency or for different frequency combinations for determining their efficiency for enhancing acoustic cavitation. Visible bubbles were optically detected and hydrogen peroxide was measured to quantify acoustic cavitation. Test water samples with different gas concentrations and different power levels were used to determine the efficacy of enhancing acoustic cavitation of this design. The spectrum obtained from the backscattered signals was also recorded and examined to confirm the occurrence of stable cavitation. The results confirmed that single-element dual-frequency ultrasound stimulation can enhance acoustic cavitation. Under certain testing conditions, the generation of bubbles can be enhanced up to a level of five times higher than the generation of bubbles in single-frequency stimulation, and can increase the hydrogen peroxide production up to an increase of one fold. This design may serve as a useful alternative for future sonoreactor design owing to its simplicity to produce dual- or multiple-frequency ultrasound.     

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.     

Conventional electromagnetic acoustic transducer development for optimum Lamb wave modes

Lamb waves are normally utilized for inspecting thin metal sheets. Wheel type probes using piezoelectric oscillators have generally been used as the sensors for Lamb waves. Recently, the electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) has been developed and is beginning to be used as a Lamb wave detector. We have developed a useful type of transducer for Lamb waves. The new EMAT consists of a meander coil with a narrow distance of 2.5 mm and has a symmetrical structure in the vertical direction for both surface sides. The new EMAT can generate Lamb waves with variable wavelengths corresponding to the frequency range from approximately 300 kHz to 2.5 MHz and multiple modes, and can also generate selected symmetrical and anti-symmetrical mode Lamb waves. It is demonstrated that the optimum Lamb wave mode could be produced by the appropriate positioning of the EMATs and controlling the phase (same or inversed) of the electrical signal driving the device. The described EMAT can be used to examine steel (or other material) sheets of different thickness. It is also shown that the S0 (0.3 MHz) mode Lamb wave is the most effective for the deepest (up to 6 mm) penetration.     

Diffractive acoustic elements for laser ultrasonics

Laser ultrasonics is an effective means of generating surface acoustic waves (SAWs). We have shown in previous publications how computer-generated holograms (CGHs) can be used to project optical distributions onto the sample surface. These can be used to control both the frequency content and the spatial distribution of the resulting ultrasound field. In this paper the concept is extended further to produce distributions which themselves act as diffractive acoustic elements (DAEs) for SAWs. It is demonstrated how frequency suppression, multiple foci, and frequency selective focusing of Rayleigh waves may be achieved with these elements. Agreement between the distributions predicted from the designs and those actually measured is excellent.     

Laser generation of narrow-band and directed ultrasound

An aluminium hemicylindrical sample has been irradiated with an array of laser lines, with each line acting as a source of acoustic waves. Detection of the generated ultrasonic waves was performed using both a wide-band stabilized Michelson interferometer and a 20 MHz piezoelectric transducer. Experimental and theoretical results are presented which reveal that the use of a spatially modulated laser source produces significant narrow-banding of the detected ultrasound, compared with a single point or single line source case. Additionally, for a given line spacing, ultrasound of a particular frequency can be directed. Owing to the nature of the acoustic signals generated by each individual array element, superposition of several signals does not result in any energy directivity similar to that encountered in phase electromagnetic array antennas. While time or frequency feature enhancement may be obtained in a desired direction, in most cases the far field energy directivity pattern is simply the incoherent sum of the energy directivity of each array element.     

Parity-time symmetric acoustic system constructed by piezoelectric composite plates with active external circuits

Researches on parity-time (PT) symmetry in acoustic field can provide an efficient platform for controlling the travelling acoustic waves with balanced loss and gain. Here, we report a feasible design of PT-symmetric system constructed by piezoelectric composite plates with two different active external circuits. By judiciously adjusting the resistances and inductances in the external circuits, we obtain the exceptional point due to the spontaneous breaking of PT symmetry at the desired frequencies and can observe the unidirectional invisibility. Moreover, the system can be at PT exact phase or broken phase at the same frequency in the same structure by merely adjusting the external circuits, which represents the active control that makes the acoustic manipulation more convenient. Our study may provide a feasible way for manipulating acoustic waves and inspire the application of piezoelectric composite materials in acoustic structures.     

Shear horizontal acoustic waves at the boundary of two piezoelectric crystals separated by a liquid layer

Transverse acoustic waves that occur at the boundary of two piezoelectric halfspaces separated by a viscoelastic liquid layer are studied theoretically. Three variants of layered structures with different numbers of metallized interfaces are considered. It is demonstrated that two types of waves exist in each of these structures. The waves are localized near the boundaries and differ in both their structure and the dependences of the complex wave numbers on the frequency or the gap width. The properties of this family of shear horizontal waves are described.     

Interaction of surface acoustic waves with moving vortex structures in superconducting films

A method is proposed for describing a moving film vortex structure and its interaction with surface acoustic waves. It is shown that the moving vortex structure can amplify (generate) surface acoustic waves. In contrast to a similar effect in semiconductor films, this effect can appear when the velocity of the vortex structure is much lower than the velocity of the surface acoustic waves. A unidirectional collective mode is shown to exist in the moving vortex structure. This mode gives rise to an acoustic analogue of the diode effect that is resonant in the velocity of the vortex structure. This acoustic effect is manifested as an anomalous attenuation of the surface acoustic waves in the direction of the vortex-structure motion and as the absence of this attenuation for the propagation in the opposite direction.     

An emerging reactor technology for chemical synthesis: Surface acoustic wave-assisted closed-vessel Suzuki coupling reactions

In this paper we demonstrate the use of an energy-efficient surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for driving closed-vessel SAW-assisted (CVSAW), ligand-free Suzuki couplings in aqueous media. The reactions were carried out on a mmolar scale with low to ultra-low catalyst loadings. The reactions were driven by heating resulting from the penetration of acoustic energy derived from RF Raleigh waves generated by a piezoelectric chip via a renewable fluid coupling layer. The yields were uniformly high and the reactions could be executed without added ligand and in water. In terms of energy density this new technology was determined to be roughly as efficient as microwaves and superior to ultrasound.     

Dispersion characteristics of transverse surface waves in piezoelectric coupled solid media with hard metal interlayer

The propagation of transverse surface waves in a piezoelectric layer/metal substrate system with one or multiple hard metal interlayer(s) is investigated analytically. The general dispersion equations for the existence of the waves are obtained in a simple mathematic form for class 6 mm piezoelectric materials. The presence of a hard metal interlayer can not only get rid of the undesired mode appearing in the case without an interlayer but shorten the existence range of the phase velocity within which a nonleaky but dispersive mode exists. The effects of the hard interlayer on the phase velocity can be used to manipulate the behavior of the waves and has implications in acoustic wave devices.     

Multimode shunt damping of piezoelectric smart panel for noise reduction

Multimode shunt damping of piezoelectric smart panel is studied for noise reduction. Piezoelectric smart panel is a plate structure on which a piezoelectric patch is attached with an electrical shunt circuit. When an incidence sound is impinged on the panel structure, the structure vibrates and the attached piezoelectric patch produces an electrical energy, which can be effectively dissipated as heat via the electrical shunt circuit. Since the energy dissipation strongly depends on the vibration mode of the panel structure, many patches are required for multiple vibration modes. Instead of using multiple piezoelectric patches, a single piezoelectric patch is used in conjunction with a blocked shunt circuit for multimode shunt damping. Modeling, shunt parameter tuning, and implementation of the blocked shunt circuit along with an acoustic test of the panel are explained. A remarkable reduction of the transmitted noise was achieved for multiple modes of the panel. Since this technology has many merits in terms of compactness, low cost, robustness, and ease of installation, practical applications in many noise problems can be anticipated.     

圆环形聚焦声场的构建与调控

提出了一种由径向振动模式的圆环形压电换能器晶片组成的圆柱形阵列换能器结构, 依据阵元激励信号的相位调控机理, 推导了圆环形聚焦声场的调控公式, 在三维空间中构建了圆环形聚焦声场, 实现了对其聚焦区域大小、聚焦圆环半径以及轴向位置移动的调控. 理论分析和仿真研究表明, 所提出的圆柱形阵列换能器实现了对圆环形聚焦声场的调控. 为检测超声、功率超声、医学超声等应用领域提供了一种可实现的新型圆环形可调控聚焦声场.     

Laser generation of acoustic waves at a periodic domain structure in lithium niobate

Generation of coherent acoustic oscillations due to the interaction of laser pulses with the periodic domain structure formed in a lithium niobate single crystal is observed. It is found that the excitation of acoustic waves is most efficient when the generated wavelength is equal to the period of the domain structure. The proposed mechanism of the optical generation of acoustic oscillations consists of the photogeneration of free carriers, which compensate the polarization fields within the domains, and the occurrence of alternating elastic stresses caused by the piezoelectric effect.     

Acoustic Absorption Characteristics of New Underwater Omnidirectional Absorber

We investigate a new underwater omnidirectional absorber with acoustic black hole effect to realize a broadband omnidirectional acoustic wave absorption. Based on multiple scattering theory, a two-dimensional axisymmetric model of underwater omnidirectional absorber comprised of an acoustic gradient refractive index structure and a hollow core is developed, and the mechanisms of omnidirectional absorption and dissipation of acoustic waves are studied. The numerical results indicate that the omnidirectional absorber developed here can achieve the omnidirectional absorption of incident acoustic waves in a broadband frequency and can effectively reduce the backscattering of acoustic waves. It potentially provides a new notion for underwater acoustic coating design.     

Influence of the porosity on the dispersion of the phase velocity of longitudinal acoustic waves in isotropic metal-matrix composites

The influence of the volumetric porosity of isotropic metal-matrix composite materials, which are reinforced with ceramic microparticles, on the dispersion of the phase velocity of longitudinal acoustic waves is investigated. For this purpose, the method of broadband acoustic spectroscopy with a laser source of ultrasound and piezoelectric detection of nanosecond ultrasonic pulses is used. Composite samples based on a silumin matrix with added silicon carbide (SiC) microparticles in different mass concentrations (3.8–15.5%) were investigated. As the concentration of SiC particles in a sample increases, its porosity that is determined using the hydrostatic-weighing method also increases. The simultaneous increase in the filler concentration and porosity leads to the appearance of a dispersion of the phase velocity of longitudinal acoustic waves in the sample within the frequency range of 3–25 MHz. The obtained empirical relationship between the relative change in the phase velocity and the sample porosity can be used to obtain a proximate quantitative estimate of the bulk porosity of the isotropic metal-matrix composite materials.     

Acoustic Wave Propagation Along Piezoelectric Plate Coated with Piezoelectric Films

Acoustical Physics - A novel solid state structure consisting of piezoelectric plate sandwiched between two piezoelectric films is suggested as propagation medium for acoustic waves. Considering,...     

Bleustein-Gulyaev waves in a functionally graded piezoelectric material layered structure

This work presents a theoretical study of the propagation behavior of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves in a layered structure consisting of a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) layer and a transversely isotropic piezoelectric substrate. The influence of the graded variation of FGPM coefficients on the dispersion relations of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves in the layered structure is investigated. It is demonstrated that, for a certain frequency range of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves, the mechanical perturbations of the particles are restricted in the FPGM layer and the phase velocity is independent of the electrical boundary conditions at the free surface. Results presented in this study can not only provide further insight on the electromechanical coupling behavior of surface waves in FGPM layered structures, but also lend a theoretical basis for the design of high-performance surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10632060), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB601202), the National 111 Project of China (Grant No. B06024), and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Grant No. 20070698064)     

剪切波对时间反转调相的经颅聚焦超声的影响*

为研究颅骨中的剪切波对经颅聚焦超声的影响,该文利用Kelvin-Voigt固体声波方程并结合时间反转法,分别模拟了考虑剪切波和不考虑剪切波时,256-单元平面相控阵为实现超声经颅聚焦所需的相位调控,并将这两种相位调控都分别作用于考虑剪切波和不考虑剪切波时的聚焦情形。对这两种相位调控以及基于它们的经颅聚焦超声场的对比分析结果表明:聚焦深度较大时,剪切波对基于时间反转进行的相位调控影响较小;不过,剪切波对经颅聚焦超声场的强度分布影响较大,忽略剪切波会导致对焦域处声场聚焦强度的高估以及对颅骨附近声能量沉积的低估。     

声表面波在厚金属栅阵中的耦合模参数

提出了一种研究声表面波在压电晶体厚金属栅阵中传播特性的理论方法。将有限元和声表面波在周期栅阵中的变分原理分析方法相结合,在陈东培和H.A.Haus理论基础上、用有限元分析金属短路栅对声表面波传输特性的影响,将力学负载贡献的耦合模参数用有限元矩阵表示,使其适用于声表面波在厚金属或任意形状栅条中传输情况,给出了具体理论分析方法和相应的理论表达式。最后,具体研究了几种压电晶体上金、铝或银栅阵中声表面波的传输特性,通过数值计算给出了声表面波的耦合模参数。      

Acoustic manipulation of active spherical carriers: Generation of negative radiation force

This paper examines theoretically a novel mechanism of generating negative (pulling) radiation force for acoustic manipulation of spherical carriers equipped with piezoelectric actuators in its inner surface. In this mechanism, the spherical particle is handled by common plane progressive monochromatic acoustic waves instead of zero-/higher- order Bessel beams or standing waves field. The handling strategy is based on applying a spatially uniform harmonic electrical voltage at the piezoelectric actuator with the same frequency of handling acoustic waves, in order to change the radiation force effect from repulsive (away from source) to attractive (toward source). This study may be considered as a start point for development of contact-free precise handling and entrapment technology of active carriers which are essential in many engineering and medicine applications.