Ultrasonic Diffraction
Ultrasonic Diffraction
University of Bern
Labcourse
The goal of this lab course is to get familiar with the physical principle
of ultrasonic waves and its interaction with light. It will be investigated how
light diffracts in a transparent medium, which is subjected to periodic density
variations, and how this can be used to measure the speed of sound (SOS)
inside that medium within an accuracy of a few permille. For the implemen-
tation of automated data acquisition and image analysis basic knowledge of
LabView (Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench) and
MatLab is required.
1 Theory
1.1 The basics
For a general introduction into the theory behind, it is recommended to
read the literature as given in the references. This is in particular required
for the following topics: 1. generation of ultrasonic waves using piezoelec-
tric crystals([1], page 49ff), 2. properties of excited piezoelectric crystals
(resonance frequency, harmonic frequencies) ([1], page 231-236), 3. optical
approaches for the determination of the speed of sound ([1], page 173ff). Ref-
erence values for the speed of sound in different liquids in the table ([1], page
263). In addition to the provided references it is strongly advised to perform
a literature research (Library, Internet, etc.) for a sufficient preparation.
1
1.2 Diffraction of light by ultrasonic waves
The interaction of light and sound exhibits many interesting and useful ef-
fects. Sound waves can deflect light, change its frequency and modulate
its phase and amplitude. In turn the diffracted light can probe the spatial
distribution of acoustic energy in the sound beam and give information on
the velocity and attenuation of the sound wave and the elastic properties of
the material. In 1932 Debye and Sears discovered in the USA and Lucas
and Biquard discovered in France that transparent media diffract light when
an ultrasound wave is sent trough them. This effect is a consequence of a
periodical variation of the refractive index, which in turn is a consequence
of a local periodical pressure change caused by the ultrasound wave. This
periodic variation coincide with the wavelength of the sound field inside the
liquid. The periodic variation in the liquid act as phase grating on the light
beam, which incides perpendicular to the propagation direction of the waves,
leading to the appearance of diffraction phenomena.
To calculate the interference pattern on the screen we need to apply Huy-
gen’s principle. We consider every point on the exit plain x = a after the
ultrasound field as a starting point of a spherical wave with an amplitude and
phase of the light wave in this point, see Fig. 1. Since the exact solution of
the eikonal S in the domain of the ultrasonic wave is very difficult, we would
like to use an approximation in which the light rays pass in parallel through
the ultrasound field and are modulated only in the local and temporal phase.
This corresponds to a linear approximation of the eikonal and amplitude.
EI = A0 ei(ωt−k0 x) (1)
2π
, where k0 is the wavevector k0 = λ0
and n, the index of refraction
2
Figure 1: scheme of diffraction principle; I, II and III indicate different re-
gions, before and after the diffraction of the incident planar light waves
R∼
= r − y ∗ sin(ϕ) (4)
We assume that the ultrasonic wave propagates in the y-direction, thus
3
h i 2
A20 l2 X 2 sin 2l (k0 sin(ϕ) − νk)
I= 2 J (k0 ∆n0 a) ∗
l
(7)
r 2 0
(k sin(ϕ) − νK)
2
The function sinx2 x is maximal for x = 0 and drops rapidly from each side
of x = 0. Thus we have strong intensity (interference fringes) around the
angles ϕν in our wave field (r >> l). For small angles we obtain
λ0
sin(ϕν ) = ν (8)
Λ
where ϕν is the angle of the ν-th diffraction maximum, λ is the optical
wavelength and Λ is the acoustic wavelength resp. the phase lattice constant.
4
1.3 Experimental determination of the speed of sound
in a liquid using optical diffraction
Making use of the diffraction of monochromatic light with a given wave-
length λ by an ultrasonic wave, we can determine the ultrasonic wavelength
Λ inside the medium. By measuring the frequency, f0 ,of the electric excita-
tion of the piezoelectric crystal, we can determine the speed of sound inside
the medium. A helium-neon (He-Ne) laser is used a light source, which pro-
vides monochromatic and collimated beam of light with a well-known optical
wavelength. For the determination of the observed diffraction angles, precise
distance measurements are required. The determination of the excitation
frequency, f0 , will be performed using a digital oscilloscope.
It is possible to determine an absolute value of the speed of sound inside
the medium with an accuracy of a few permille, when the experiments are
performed in an accurate way.
5
Figure 3: experimental setup: P = piezoelectric crystal with HF-oscillator,
oscilloscope to determine excitation frequency, HF-amplifier and Impedance
to avoid feedback loops. T = USB-temperature sensor. Arrangement of
components for optical diffraction : L = lightsource (He-Ne Laser); O =
microscope objective; L1 = lens (f1 = 200 mm); Q = glass cuvette with
piezoelectric crystal; L2 = lens (f2 = 100 mm); S = difffraction pattern on
CCD chip (CMOS VGA Chip, OV7720)
• Oscilloscope
6
2.2 Lightsource
As coherent, monochromatic light source a ”Uniphase” He-Ne laser is used.
It emits light at a wavelength of 633nm and has a average power of around
1 mW. To avoid an overexposure of the CCD ship, different grey-filters are
available for optical attenuation.
7
2.6 Properties of Ethanol
At T = 25.5◦ C:
• Index of refraction:
n = 1.3597 at λ = 589nm
n = 1.3597 at λ = 656nm
(H2 O for comparison: n = 1.332)
• density ρ = 0.785g/cm3
2.8 LabVIEW
For an overview and introduction into the software-package LabVIEW the
following book [2] can be used. In addition many LabVIEW tutorials for
basic programming can be found on the internet.
8
LabVIEW -’Functions’-folder under ’Functions: Vision and Motion’. For a
further explanantion of how to control the camera in LabVIEW, see provided
reference folder.
3 Excercises
3.1 Theoretical Preparation
Acquire knowledge over the following topics:
9
• Careful preparation of the SOS measurements in liquids using light
diffraction by ultrasonic waves: Planing of the experiment and
analysis, Estimation of influence of refraction at transition air-glass
cuvette.
3.2 Experiments
• Measurement of resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric element in
water and determination of eigenfrequency with a high accuracy;
comparison to theoretical value;
References
[1] L. Bergmann. Der Ultraschall und seine Anwendung in Wissenschaft und
Technik. S. Hirzel Verlag Zürich, 5 edition, 1949.
10