Nonlinear interaction of ultrasonic waves: A tribute to Mack Breazeale.

Abstract

While at Brown University (∼1977), this graduate student was fortunate enough to learn about Mack Breazeale’s important early work in nonlinear ultrasonic waves in solids [J. Appl. Phys. 36, 3486 (1965)] through his thesis advisor (R. T. Beyer), who had friendly and most collegial interactions with Mack, through the ASA. When I met Mack Breazeale at ASA Meetings, he would discuss how he made some of his measurements and helped me understand some complexities involving the scattering of sound by sound. While Mack Breazeale was Associate Editor of nonlinear acoustics he gave a wealth of good advice (over a period of several years) on how to improve a manuscript on crossed beam scattering in turbulence and divide the material into at least two parts—which was done. When the paper was out, one agreed with Mack that it was much better and worth the effort. Years later, doing summer research at NCPA, Mack helped improve a manuscript on nonlinear acoustic landmine detection. As a tribute to Mack Breazeale, his work on “Quantum mechanical theory on nonlinear interaction of ultrasonic waves” (with I. L. Bajak) [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 68, 1245 (1980)] will be discussed in some detail.