Visualization of wall propagation and surface reflection effects on ultrasound fields generated inside a small container

Abstract

In studies on the bioeffects of ultrasound exposure on cells cultured in a Petri dish, an understanding of the pressure field generated inside the dish is essential to achieve better dosimetry of ultrasound exposure. In this study, ultrasound fields generated inside four types of small containers designed to mimic a Petri dish were visualized using the focused shadowgraphy technique. The results revealed that wall propagation and water surface reflection of ultrasound make a complex standing wave field in the entire space of the container, which is very different from a standing wave field predicted by a simple model with reflection at the flat water surface without wall propagation.