Weakly nonlinear focused ultrasound in viscoelastic media containing multiple bubbles

To facilitate practical medical applications such as cancer treatment utilizing focused ultrasound and bubbles, a mathematical model that can describe the soft viscoelasticity of human body, the nonlinear propagation of focused ultrasound, and the nonlinear oscillations of multiple bubbles is theoretically derived and numerically solved. The Zener viscoelastic model and Keller–Miksis bubble equation, which have been used for analyses of single or few bubbles in viscoelastic liquid, are used to model the liquid containing multiple bubbles. From the theoretical analysis based on the perturbation expansion with the multiple-scales method, the Khokhlov–Zabolotskaya–Kuznetsov (KZK) equation, which has been used as a mathematical model of weakly nonlinear propagation in single phase liquid, is extended to viscoelastic liquid containing multiple bubbles. The results show that liquid elasticity decreases the magnitudes of the nonlinearity, dissipation, and dispersion of ultrasound and increases the phase velocity of the ultrasound and linear natural frequency of the bubble oscillation. From the numerical calculation of resultant KZK equation, the spatial distribution of the liquid pressure fluctuation for the focused ultrasound is obtained for cases in which the liquid is water or liver tissue. In addition, frequency analysis is carried out using the fast Fourier transform, and the generation of higher harmonic components is compared for water and liver tissue. The elasticity suppresses the generation of higher harmonic components and promotes the remnant of the fundamental frequency components. This indicates that the elasticity of liquid suppresses shock wave formation in practical applications.     

An efficient algorithm for strongly focused optical beams propagating in Kerr media

Due to the lens-induced quadratic phase factor from converging lens, the beam-propagation method (BPM) is computationally expensive in simulations by the sampling theorem for lens-induced strongly focused beams propagating in nonlinear media. In the paper, we present a modified approach (MA) based on the separate envelope and lens-induced phase to only compute the envelope in the whole focal region. Then we demonstrate the correctness of MA analytically by the propagation of focused Gaussian beam and numerically by that of focused Super-Gaussian beam in linear media. Numerical simulations of strongly focused beams based on MA are in good agreement with those of BPM when propagating in Kerr media. The sampling requirement of MA which is similar with no lens-induced phase beam is lower than that of BPM which increases with the lens-induced chirp parameter and the propagation distance. Thus the computational efficiency can be greatly improved.     

Scattering of focused ultrasonic beams by cavities in a solid half-space

The ultrasonic field generated by a point focused acoustic lens placed in a fluid medium adjacent to a solid half-space, containing one or more spherical cavities, is modeled. The semi-analytical distributed point source method (DPSM) is followed for the modeling. This technique properly takes into account the interaction effect between the cavities placed in the focused ultrasonic field, fluid-solid interface and the lens surface. The approximate analytical solution that is available in the literature for the single cavity geometry is very restrictive and cannot handle multiple cavity problems. Finite element solutions for such problems are also prohibitively time consuming at high frequencies. Solution of this problem is necessary to predict when two cavities placed in close proximity inside a solid can be distinguished by an acoustic lens placed outside the solid medium and when such distinction is not possible.     

Spatial mode cleaning in radically asymmetric strongly focused laser beams

We demonstrate that a femtosecond laser pulse strongly focused in air can produce a highly symmetric damage pattern on glass. This damage pattern contains a series of near-perfect radial rings, with diameters much larger than the predicted focal spot diameter. These rings disappear when the experiment is conducted in vacuum, indicating atmospheric involvement. Surprisingly, the shape and size of the rings seem to be nearly independent of the shape of the generating laser beam, showing dramatic spatial mode cleaning. A “half moon” initial laser mode created by obscuring one side of the round beam produces rings of similar quality to those obtained with the unclipped beam. While spatial mode cleaning has previously been reported in filaments, this is the most dramatic demonstration of the effect that we are aware of. We argue that the effect is due primarily to ionization, in contrast to studies in longer filaments that attribute it to self-focusing.     

Kerr非线性介质中聚焦像散高斯光束的传输特性

当高功率激光通过Kerr非线性介质传输时,Kerr效应会严重影响激光的传输特性.实际应用中常遇到像散光束.迄今为止,像散光束传输特性的研究大都局限于在线性介质中的传输,而在非线性介质中传输的研究较少,且还未涉及像散激光束通过含光学系统的Kerr非线性介质传输变换的研究.本文主要研究Kerr效应对聚焦光束像散特性和焦移特...     

Extension of the distributed point source method for ultrasonic field modeling

The distributed point source method (DPSM) was recently proposed for ultrasonic field modeling and other applications. This method uses distributed point sources, placed slightly behind transducer surface, to model the ultrasound field. The acoustic strength of each point source is obtained through matrix inversion that requires the number of target points on the transducer surface to be equal to the number of point sources. In this work, DPSM was extended and further developed to overcome the limitations of the original method and provide a solid mathematical explanation of the physical principle behind the method. With the extension, the acoustic strength of the point sources was calculated as the solution to the least squares minimization problem instead of using direct matrix inversion. As numerical examples, the ultrasound fields of circular and rectangular transducers were calculated using the extended and original DPSMs which were then systematically compared with the results calculated using the theoretical solution and the exact spatial impulse response method. The numerical results showed the extended method can model ultrasonic fields accurately without the scaling step required by the original method. The extended method has potential applications in ultrasonic field modeling, tissue characterization, nondestructive testing, and ultrasound system optimization.     

基于纹影法的聚焦超声声场重建算法研究

为了从聚焦超声声场纹影图像直接重建声场声压分布图像,首先根据水中声波与光波的作用规律,利用Zernike相衬技术得到纹影系统中空间声压分布与纹影图像中光强的关系,再通过纹影系统获得聚焦超声声场实时图像,最后根据纹影系统的物理特性经过反投影重建算法重建出凹球壳聚焦超声换能器的空间声压分布。分析可知,理论声焦域横向与声轴大小分别为0.15 mm、1.4 mm,重建声场电功率为12 W时横向最接近为0.25 mm,30 W时声轴最接近为1.35 mm。与球壳换能器的理论声压分布进行对比的结果表明,该方法具有一定可行性,可以用于聚焦超声换能器的声场分布检测。     

Enhanced multiple ultrasonic shear reflection method for the determination of high frequency viscoelastic properties

In this work, we propose a study dedicated to the influence of the delay line nature in transverse ultrasonic sensors, dedicated to dynamic high frequency elastic moduli of viscoelastic materials estimation. In literature, these shear ultrasonic rheometers are using delay lines in glass or quartz and normal or oblique incidence of ultrasonic rays. The oblique incidence is used in order to improve the sensitivity of the measurements. We theoretically demonstrate in this work that the use of delay lines in polymers is recommended to improve the sensitivity. Due to modifications, performed on a 10 MHz commercial ultrasonic sensor, we experimentally show on glycerin (which is a Newtonian material) that it is possible to multiply by a factor 10 the sensitivity; compared to delay lines in quartz using a normal incidence of rays. Hence, we overpass the accuracy of the oblique incidence approach with a simpler experimental setup.     

热疗用聚焦超声换能器的研究

本文通过数值计算及实际测量,研究了凹球面声透镜聚焦换能器及凹球面自聚焦换能器产生的声场,证实此两种聚焦方式均可获得理想的聚焦效果,但自聚焦方式更适合高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)加热治疗。     

Application of focused beams for parametric reflection control

The effect of parametric reflection of a signal beam from a focused reference beam has been investigated. It is shown that focusing reduces a pump power reflection threshold but causes certain distortions due to the reduction of the area of the parametric mirror and occurrence of its longitudinal curvature. These effects limit the width and angle of incidence of the signal beam. To decrease the sum wave power, it is proposed to introduce an additional dispersion mismatch.     

Model equation for strongly focused finite-amplitude sound beams

A model equation that describes the propagation of sound beams in a fluid is developed using the oblate spheroidal coordinate system. This spheroidal beam equation (SBE) is a parabolic equation and has a specific application to a theoretical prediction on focused, high-frequency beams from a circular aperture. The aperture angle does not have to be small. The theoretical background is basically along the same analytical lines as the composite method (CM) reported previously [B. Ystad and J. Berntsen, Acustica 82, 698-706 (1996)]. Numerical examples are displayed for the amplitudes of sound pressure along and across the beam axis when sinusoidal waves are radiated from the source with uniform amplitude distribution. The primitive approach to linear field analysis is readily extended to the case where harmonic generation in finite-amplitude sound beams becomes significant due to the inherent nonlinearity of the medium. The theory provides the propagation and beam pattern profiles that differ from the CM solution for each harmonic component.     

各向异性黏弹性介质伪谱法波场模拟

当地震信号通过复杂地球介质时，地层除了表现为各向异性，还表现为内在的黏弹性特征 因此，为准确描述地震波在地球介质中的传播特征，理想的地球介质模型应该能够模拟岩石 的各向异性特征和衰减特征.给出了各向异性黏弹性介质模型的波动方程，推导了伪谱法波场正演模拟的递推公式，并利用伪谱法实现了地震波波场数值模拟.表明了该介质模型中地 震波场特征与各向异性主轴方位和介质的黏滞性参数之间的关系. 关键词： 黏弹性 各向异性 伪谱法     

Equations of state for viscoelastic biological media

Several simple models used for viscoelastic media in medical acoustics are analyzed. New versions of equations of state that obey fundamental principles, namely, the causality principle and the principle of entropy increase, are proposed for viscoelastic substances.     

方位各向异性黏弹性介质波场有限元模拟

随着裂缝性储集层的地位越来越重要，黏弹性各向异性介质中地震波传播理论的研究也越来越受到重视.在弱黏滞性条件下，针对标准线性黏弹性体模型，采用时间增量法，在每一个时间步长确定黏弹性变形及载荷，并在计算下一个时间步长的黏弹性变形时把它加载进去，建立类似于解弹性问题的黏弹性方位各向异性介质波动方程的有限元递推公式.数值模拟给出了黏弹性波在地球介质中的波场传播特征. 关键词： 黏弹性 方位各向异性 有限元 时间增量法     

格子玻尔兹曼方法对不同张角聚焦声束的建模

高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)是一种新型的无创治疗肿瘤新技术,其中换能器声场数值计算能够为HIFU治疗提供重要的依据。传统非线性KZK和SBE模型广泛应用于换能器声场数值计算,但依然存在某些不足。我们采用一种介观尺度的新型流体力学方法,即格子Boltzmann方法(LBM),基于2维9离散速度(D2Q9)格子构建了轴对称多弛豫参数LBM模型,并通过调节弛豫参数分析其对模型的影响;利用该模型对两个具有不同张角的球面聚焦换能器的声场进行数值模拟,并与KZK和SBE模型的计算结果进行比较。结果表明LBM模型能够很好地描述超声波的激发和传播机制,从流体力学的角度描述聚焦声场的分布,具有清晰的物理意义,且计算过程不受换能器张角的限制,在换能器声场的理论分析和模拟计算及其在HIFU治疗中的应用有着积极的意义。     

Perfect quasi-phase matching for the third-harmonic generation using focused Gaussian beams

We propose a method to realize perfect quasi-phase matching (QPM) for nonlinear optical interactions involving Gaussian beams. Using this method, both the wave-vector mismatching and the Gouy phase shift can be compensated. Numerical simulations for the third-harmonic generation show that conversion efficiency near to 100% can be realized even if the fundamental wave is tightly focused, which is difficult or even impossible with the conventional QPM method.     

Self-action of ultrasonic beams for biological applications.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of powerful ultrasonic beams self-focusing in liquids are described. Calculations of the conditions to observe self-action as a result of sound-induced heating of liquids are reported. The effects of controlled self-action of ultrasonic waves in high-viscosity liquids are demonstrated in experiments. A hydrodynamic mechanism of the acoustic dispersion technique is developed. The rate of this process, as a function of ultrasound intensity, including the effects of self-focusing and self-transparency, is evaluated.