Use of acousto-optic techniques to detect subharmonic and cavitation activity

Observations were made of the diffraction patterns produced by the acousto-optic effect in superfluid helium and in methanol for both cylindrical and plane wave sound fields. Thresholds for the subharmonic of order $\text{1}\text{2}$ and transient cavitation were determined by observation of abrupt changes in the diffraction patterns. The onset of the subharmonic produced additional diffracted signals in a stable diffraction pattern while onset of cavitation completely disrupted the diffraction pattern.