Multiple beam ultrasound sensing using gas-coupled laser acoustic detection

Abstract

Gas-coupled laser acoustic detection (GCLAD) has been utilized to sense ultrasound radiating from solid materials. GCLAD is an optical beam deflection technique which detects acoustic waves independently of the optical surface properties of the material. This study presents three GCLAD system configurations which pass multiple beams through the acoustic field to achieve significant gains in signal, scanning time, or quality of the data. Advances in laser technology, coupled with the comparatively inexpensive GCLAD detectors, promote the utilization of a multiple-beam system.