Acoustooptic visualization of scattering media

Abstract

Application of coherent interaction of laser light with a focused ultrasonic wave to the technique of acoustooptic visualization in multiple-scattering media is discussed. By analyzing spatial distribution of the optical radiation modulated by ultrasound (the photocurrent at ultrasonic frequency), images of large-sized inhomogeneities embedded into the scattering medium have been obtained. A light-absorbing half-plane and a square with sides of 5 mm were used as the inhomogeneities. The visualization was performed under optimal conditions for measuring the alternating photocurrent calculated for the proposed model of coherent interaction between the laser and acoustic beams (the Raman-Nath diffraction). The alternating current at the ultrasonic frequency was obtained as a result of mixing the waves of the diffraction fields on the detector’s photocathode. All experimental values were obtained from a single measurement without averaging the alternating photocurrent at the ultrasonic frequency of 3 MHz, with the scattering parameter varying up to μL≤37.5, where μ is the extinction coefficient and L is the thickness of the scattering medium along the laser beam axis. The measured quantities varied in the course of the measurements by more than 10 orders of magnitude.