Ultrasonic wedges for elastic wave bending and splitting without requiring a full band gap

We present a novel twinned-square periodic structure for ultrasonic wave bending and splitting that does not require the existence of a complete band gap and plays the role of an ultrasonic wedge. The device allows 45 degrees bending of waves and by adequately switching the twinned structure to an ultrasonic crystal 90 degrees bending is achieved. An extreme refraction law at the grain boundaries is experimentally observed.     

A miniaturization of the multi-degree-of-freedom ultrasonic actuator using a small cylinder fixed on a substrate

Multi-degree-of-freedom ultrasonic actuator has been studied for robot arms and multidimensional precision table and so on because of its simple structure, silent operation, and holding force. In this study, we aim to miniaturize multi-degree-of-freedom ultrasonic actuator for fabrication on a substrate. This actuator consists of a stainless steel cylinder and a PZT ring. The cylinder is fixed on a substrate and the PZT ring is glued to the substrate near the cylinder. The 1st longitudinal vibration and the 2nd bending vibration are simultaneously excited in the cylinder to make elliptical motion at the top of the cylinder and a ball rotor placed on the cylinder rotates because of the friction force. Length of the cylinder was decided so as to tune the resonance frequency of the 1st longitudinal vibration to the 2nd bending one. Actuator performances are evaluated experimentally using a 14 mm height and 7 mm diameter stainless steel cylinder with a 0.5 mm thickness PZT ring. The rotation about the cylinder axis is tested using the two orthogonal bending vibrations with 90 degrees phase difference. Also, the rotation about horizontal axes were investigated using the combination of the longitudinal vibration and one of two bending vibrations. We measured the rotation speed of a steel ball and obtained 15.8 rps using a 6 mm diameter ball rotor.     

Negative refraction and left-handed electromagnetism in microwave photonic crystals

We demonstrate the negative refraction of microwaves in a metallic photonic crystal prism. The spectral response of the photonic crystal prism, which manifests both positive and negative refraction, is in complete agreement with band-structure calculations and numerical simulations. The validity of Snell's law with a negative refractive index is confirmed experimentally and theoretically. The negative refraction observed corresponds to left-handed electromagnetism that arises due to the dispersion characteristics of waves in a periodic medium. This mechanism for negative refraction is different from that in metamaterials.     

Flat superlens by using negative refraction in two-dimensional phononic crystals

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrated a flat superlens by negative refraction imaging for acoustic waves in a two-dimensional phononic crystal. The sample consists of a square array of steel cylinders immersed in water. The dispersion surfaces at the first band for this sample are nearly circular around point M in the first Brillouin zone, which makes the index of the negative refraction for the phononic crystal sample be well defined for all angles of incidence. Both the observed negative refraction behavior and imaging effect are in excellent agreement with numerical simulations by the Multiple Scattering Theory method.     

Estimation of critical and viscous frequencies for Biot theory in cancellous bone

The use of Biot theory for modelling ultrasonic wave propagation in porous media involves the definition of a "critical frequency" above which both fast and slow compressional waves will, in principle, propagate. Critical frequencies have been evaluated for healthy and osteoporotic cancellous bone filled with water or marrow, using data from the literature. The range of pore sizes in bone gives rise to a critical frequency band rather than a single critical frequency, the mean of which is lower for osteoporotic bone than normal bone. However, the critical frequency is a theoretical concept and previous researchers considered a more realistic "viscous frequency" above which both fast and slow waves may be experimentally observed. Viscous frequencies in bone are found to be several orders of magnitude greater than calculated critical frequencies. Whereas two waves may well be observed at all ultrasonic frequencies for water-filled cancellous bone at 20 degrees C, it is probable megahertz frequencies would be needed for observation of two waves in vivo.     

Ultrasound transmission tomography image distortions caused by the refraction effect

This paper presents the influence of ultrasonic beam ray refraction effect on the internal object structure imaging using the ultrasound transmission tomography method (UTT), in parallel ray projection geometry, for ultrasonic pulse run-time measurements. Simulation calculations carried out using specially elaborated software were verified experimentally by means of real measurements on a research set-up for UTT. Simple ways to minimize image distortions caused by the refraction effect were also suggested.     

Self-focusing of acoustic beams in a guaiacol-glycerol solution: Concentration mechanism

The possibility of experimental observation of the self-focusing of ultrasonic beams as a result of temperature and concentration nonlinearities in a stratified guaiacol-glycerol solution with a closed stratification region has been analyzed. The estimation showed that the thermally induced ultrasound self-focusing can be observed in a frequency range from 1 to 10 MHz at ultrasonic pulse durations of 1 to 25 s and energies below 3 J. The concentration mechanism of self-focusing can be observed only in the immediate vicinity of the lower critical point of solution stratification at an average acoustic beam intensity of ∼1 Wm⁻² and a pulse duration longer than 100 s. It is shown that a medium must be exposed to a pulsed periodic sound beam to experimentally implement these conditions.     

Possibility of using laser-fibre optics as a fire detection system

Optical fibres together with a helium-neon laser is proposed to be used as a new fire detection system. This has been Investigated experimentally and reported in this paper. Results on the coupling loss, bending loss, extinction loss of the fibres due to smoke and refraction loss through hot air shimmer are described. Comparison with the performance of common optical and ionization detectors is made. Experimental results indicate that the optical signal would be significantly changed when there is smoke. Hence it is highly probable that a new fire detection system can be designed using laser-fibre optics.     

基于稀土掺杂光纤的强度调制型弯曲传感器

研究了一种基于稀土掺杂材料的新型周期性微拉锥玻璃光纤及其弯曲传感应用技术. 该光纤的纤芯和包层分别由两种硅酸铅玻璃材料组成,具有可塑性好和易于形成微拉锥的特点. 该传感器的核心敏感体由聚焦的CO₂激光束对稀土掺杂光纤进行周期性和等间距加热方式制备. 论文以该敏感体为核心,结合精密位置移动平台和光学测量平台,构建了基于强度调制的弯曲传感测量系统. 理论研究和实验结果表明,这种弯曲传感测量系统的传输光强灵敏度达到-28.2 μW/m,测量误差低于±1%,具备实际的工程应用价值. 关键词： 稀土掺杂光纤 微拉锥 弯曲传感 强度调制     

Multiband diffraction and refraction control in binary arrays of periodically curved waveguides

The possibility of controlling discrete diffraction and refraction in a multiband waveguide array by periodic waveguide bending is theoretically demonstrated. Resonance effects, leading to the enhancement or inhibition of discrete diffraction, are found and related to the quantum analog of field-induced n-photon resonances in semiconductor superlattices. A very distinct behavior for light refraction is found for odd or even resonances. In particular, for even resonances, the two-band behavior of the straight binary array is quenched, resulting in the inhibition of double refraction.     

Propagation phenomena of wideband guided waves in a bended pipe

Ultrasonic guided waves in pipes have been anticipated as a rapid screening technique for pipe inspection because of their long-range propagation due to low energy leakage. In this paper, the propagation phenomena of guided waves in a bended pipe were investigated using a wideband laser ultrasonic system. The laser ultrasonic system, together with wavelet transformation, is a powerful tool for observing the dispersive phenomena intrinsic to guided waves. Bended stainless steel (SUS304) pipes with 6-mm outer diameter and 1-mm wall thickness were used in the experiments. The bending angles of the pipes were set to 0 degrees (straight pipe), 10 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees. The radius of the bend was 12.5 mm in all the pipes. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was employed to generate the guided waves. The generated guided waves were detected with a heterodyne interferometer. The obtained time-domain signals and their wavelet coefficients indicated the following two conclusions: (1) The amplitude of the F(1,1) mode converted from the L(0,1) mode increased with the increase of the bending angle. (2) Mode conversions from the L(0,1) to F(1,1) modes and vice versa were clearly observed in the low-frequency range up to around 200 kHz.     

Investigation of two-dimensional acoustic resonant modes in a particle separator

Within an acoustic standing wave particles experience acoustic radiation forces, a phenomenon which is exploited in particle or cell manipulation devices. When developing such devices, one-dimensional acoustic characteristics corresponding to the transducer(s) are typically of most importance and determine the primary radiation forces acting on the particles. However, radiation forces have also been observed to act in the lateral direction, perpendicular to the primary radiation force, forming striated patterns. These lateral forces are due to lateral variations in the acoustic field influenced by the geometry and materials used in the resonator. The ability to control them would present an advantage where their effect is either detrimental or beneficial to the particle manipulation process. The two-dimensional characteristics of an ultrasonic separator device have been modelled within a finite element analysis (FEA) package. The fluid chamber of the device, within which the standing wave is produced, has a width to height ratio of approximately 30:1 and it is across the height that a half-wavelength standing wave is produced to control particle movement. Two-dimensional modal analyses have calculated resonant frequencies which agree well with both the one-dimensional modelling of the device and experimentally measured frequencies. However, these two-dimensional analyses also reveal that these modes exhibit distinctive periodic variations in the acoustic pressure field across the width of the fluid chamber. Such variations lead to lateral radiation forces forming particle bands (striations) and are indicative of enclosure modes. The striation spacings predicted by the FEA simulations for several modes compare well with those measured experimentally for the ultrasonic particle separator device. It is also shown that device geometry and materials control enclosure modes and therefore the strength and characteristics of lateral radiation forces, suggesting the potential use of FEA in designing for the control of enclosure modes in similar particle manipulator devices.     

Enhanced surface plasmon interference lithography from cavity resonance in the grating slits

Surface plasmon interference lithography based on grating diffraction has been studied both theoretically and experimentally in recent years. In this paper, we demonstrate that the cavity resonance in the grating slits can improve the subwavelength interference, not only the intensity but also the uniformity of the pattern. Both the typical lithography structure which merely consists of periodic metallic gratings and the modified structure equipped with a reflection layer are studied. The finite element method has been performed to study the interference pattern. Numerical simulations show that the property of the interference pattern is the optimum when cavity resonance happens. This enhancement can be applied to all the lithography structures which are based on the grating diffraction.     

Experimental investigation of negative refraction and imaging of 8-fold-symmetry phononic quasicrystals

The focus behaviors of acoustic wave through 8-fold-symmetry phononic quasicrystals have been observed experimentally in this paper. By measuring the field distributions in the image plane, we obtain an elongated image of a point source which has a similar result with phononic crystals. The negative refraction index was measured in two different ways which are very consistent with each other. These properties make the phononic quasicrystals (PQCs) promising for application in a range of phononic devices.     

矩形辐射器压电多频超声换能器的研究

研究了一种具有多个共振频率的矩形辐射器夹心式超声换能器,换能器由圆柱形后盖板、压电陶瓷晶堆及矩形六面体辐射器前盖板组合而成。利用表观弹性法和一维近似理论给出了多频换能器横向及纵向理论共振频率方程。对一种特殊情况下的此类换能器进行了有限元及实验分析,给出了各自的频率输入导纳曲线。对理论和实验结果进行分析后表明,此类矩形辐射器夹心式超声换能器可以在不同的振动模态上工作,具有多个共振频率.     

Gas jet as a waveguide for air-coupled ultrasound

The directional characteristics of an ultrasonic signal have been studied during propagation within an axial gas jet. The effects of nozzle shape, nozzle diameter, and variations in jet velocity, temperature and gas composition have been investigated. At high flow velocities of an air jet, divergence of the ultrasonic beam was observed. This was attributed to the effects of refraction, caused by increased acoustic velocities in the direction of the flow. An effective waveguide was also demonstrated by cooling the air jet to below ambient temperatures, so that the acoustic velocity in the air jet was lower than that in the surrounding atmosphere. This could also be achieved by using carbon dioxide mixed with air, whereas the use of helium led to increased divergence. The result is likely to be of use in air-coupled ultrasonic materials inspection.     

Enhanced backward-directed multiphoton-excited fluorescence from dielectric microcavities

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that one-, two-, and three-photon excited fluorescence from dye molecules in spherical microcavities has an asymmetrical angular distribution and is enhanced in the backward direction. The enhancement ratios (of intensities at 180 degrees and 90 degrees ) are 9, 5, and 1.8 for three-, two-, and one-photon excitation, respectively. Even larger ratios are expected for microspheres with an index of refraction larger than that used in the experiments. Because of the reciprocity principle and concentration of the incident wave inside particles, the backward enhancement is expected to occur even with nonspherical particles.     

Modeling of lamb waves generated by integrated transducers in composite plates using a coupled finite element-normal modes expansion method

Thin piezoelectric transducers attached to or embedded within composite structures could be used for in situ structural health monitoring. For plate-shaped structures, the useful ultrasonic vibration modes are Lamb waves. Preliminary testing has already demonstrated the suitability and practical feasibility of such integrated transducers, but better control of the generation of Lamb modes seems to be necessary. Therefore, an original modeling approach has been developed, which can be used to design and optimize these "sensitive materials." This modeling technique allows the determination of the amplitude of each Lamb mode excited in a composite plate with surface-bonded or bulk-embedded piezoelectric elements. The method consists of a coupling of the finite element method (FEM) and the normal modes expansion method. The limited finite element mesh of the transducer and its vicinity enables the computation of the mechanical field created by the transducer, which is then introduced as a forcing function into the normal modes equations. The adequacy and accuracy of this modeling method have been numerically and experimentally verified.     

Negative refraction and focusing of electromagnetic wave through two-dimensional photonic crystals

The negative refraction of electromagnetic waves in photonic crystals was recently demonstrated experimentally, and the physical properties were analyzed. Microsuperlenses based on two-dimensional photonic crystals were designed and the subwavelength images were observed. In this review, after providing a brief history of the research related to the above phenomena, we will summarize our research works in this field including the method of creating a negative refraction region, generating an absolute negative refraction, the focusing of unpolarized electromagnetic waves, and the effect of interface and disorder on the image by the two-dimensional photonic crystal flat lens. The discussion on the negative refraction and the focusing by high symmetric quasicrystals is also presented.