19 - Piezoelectric and fibre-optic hydrophones

Abstract

This chapter considers the many different types of hydrophone – both piezoelectric and fibre-optic. It begins with a presentation of the functional qualities common to all device types. As each design of hydrophone is introduced, its performance in terms of these general characteristics is assessed. Although the organisation of the chapter introduces piezoelectric hydrophones separately from their fibre-optic counterparts, there are many similarities between the two classes, and these are identified and considered throughout. Whilst piezoelectric hydrophones have been available for decades and have thus gained widespread acceptance in ultrasound metrology, fibre-optic hydrophones are a relatively recent development. Consequently, the consideration of such devices is given specific emphasis in order to shed further light on this rapidly developing field of study.