Optical hydrophone for a shock-wave field with long service life

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical hydrophone for the measurement of the acoustic pressure distribution in a fluid medium (10), in particular, for the determination of an ultrasound shock-wave field, comprising a light source (2), for the generation of light (LS) and for the illumination of a surface region (6), arranged on a boundary region (8) between an optically transparent body (4) and the fluid medium (10). There is a light receiver (14) for measuring the intensity of the light (LR) reflected from said surface region (6). The above serves as a measure of the acoustic pressure. According to the invention, the illuminated surface region (6) is smaller than the boundary surface (8), formed between the body (4) and the fluid medium (10). The above permits the production of a hydrophone with a long service life and high spatial resolution capacity.