Using talbot interferometry to see ultrasonic waves

Assembling a system which forms the optical image of an acoustic field can be a time consuming and exacting chore. Necessary labor involves component testing, optical beam collimation, plus optical and acoustic component alignment. We discuss here a Schlieren method which both simplifies the setting-up, and provides a new way of seeing the acoustic field. We term the method Talbot-Schlieren as it utilizes the Fourier-self-imaging or Talbot effect.