Theoretical Investigation of the Integrated Optical Effect Produced by Sound Fields Radiated from Plane Piston Transducers

Abstract

An expression, valid in the Raman-Nath region, is derived for the integrated optical effect experienced by a light beam traversing the sound field of a plane piston transducer of arbitrary shape. Specific results for circular and rectangular transducers are discussed. Of particular interest is the optical effect produced by a square transducer aligned so that the light beam propagates in a direction parallel to one of the diagonals. In this case, the integrated optical effect is nearly constant over a fairly large region in space, suggesting the possibility of using this configuration to make absorption measurements.