Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Evanescent Field Based Photoacoustics: Optical Property Evaluation at Surfaces
Published on: July 26, 2016
Optical Bragg imaging of acoustic fields after reflection
Nico F Declercq1, Michael S McPherson, Mack A Breazeale
1Laboratory for Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation, UMI Georgia Tech, CNRS 2958, Georgia Institute of Technology, George W Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, 57070 Metz, France. nico.declercq@me.gatech.edu
This study introduces a novel reflection-based acoustic Bragg imaging technique. This method overcomes limitations of traditional methods, enabling new nondestructive testing applications in industry and medicine.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bragg diffraction principles apply to both X-rays and visible light interacting with periodic structures.
- Acoustic Bragg imaging uses ultrasonic fields to diffract light, visualizing object structures.
- High-frequency ultrasound (25-30 MHz) causes significant attenuation, limiting traditional acoustic Bragg imaging in nondestructive testing (NDT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a reflection-based acoustic Bragg imaging technique.
- To explore potential industrial and biomedical NDT applications of this new method.
Main Methods:
- Investigated a reflection-based approach to acoustic Bragg imaging.
- Analyzed the feasibility of imaging through ultrasonic fields in a reflective configuration.
Main Results:
- The reflection-based method offers a potential solution to overcome ultrasonic attenuation issues.
- This technique may enable NDT applications where traditional transmission-based methods fail.
Conclusions:
- Reflection-based acoustic Bragg imaging presents a promising advancement for NDT.
- This technique could expand the use of acoustic Bragg imaging in industrial and biomedical fields.
Related Concept Videos
Echo
Imagine the sound is reflected back to the ears. Assuming that the source is very close to the human, the difference between hearing the two sounds—the emitted sound and the reflected sound—may be more than the minimum time for perceiving distinct sounds. If this is the case, then the...
Reflection of Waves
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Interference and Diffraction
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

