Sound absorption coefficient measurements by phase-conjugate ultrasonic waves

Abstract

Measurements of the sound absorption coefficient in test objects containing solid microparticles randomly distributed over the object volumes are carried out. Two methods are used for this purpose: the standard echo-pulse insert-substitution method and a modified method using phase conjugation of ultrasound. The test objects are made from gelatin, and the size of the particles introduced in it is chosen to allow measurements in both the long- and medium-wavelength scattering modes of the probing beam. It is shown that, in the first scattering mode, in which the presence of particles causes additional viscous and temperature losses, the two aforementioned methods give identical results. In the second scattering mode, in which the dominant mechanism of additional loss is elastic scattering, the use of phase conjugation allows an almost complete reconstruction of the scattered field and, hence, a more reliable upper estimate for the coefficient of ultrasonic absorption in the test objects.