Acoustic microscope—scanning version

TLDR

The authors develop a mechanically scanned acoustic microscope achieving 10‑µm resolution. The system uses single‑surface lenses to focus an acoustic beam in water, mechanically scans the object in a raster pattern, and detects transmitted power with a piezoelectric transducer to drive a CRT display. Piezoelectric detection achieves 10⁻⁸ W/cm² sensitivity, producing images with excellent clarity and contrast.

Abstract

This letter reports the development of a mechanically scanned acoustic microscope showing 10-μm resolution. Using single-surface lenses an acoustic beam is focused with negligible spherical aberration in a water cell. The image is formed by mechanically scanning an object through this focused beam in a raster pattern. Transmitted power is detected with a piezoelectric transducer, and this signal modulates the synchronized raster of a CRT display. By employing piezoelectric detection, sensitivities of 10−8 W/cm2 are obtained, yielding images of excellent clarity and contrast.