Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026
08:27
Mechanical Mapping of Spheroids Using Brillouin Spectroscopy
Published on: December 12, 2025
512
Axially focused (glory) scattering from surface waves on spheroids: Model and experimental confirmation using a brass
Heather A Moon1, Philip L Marston1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-2814, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|December 17, 2025
Summary
Ultrasound scattering from solid prolate spheroids in water shows enhanced backscattering. This phenomenon is linked to a leaky Rayleigh-like wave mechanism, supporting surface-guided ray theory for complex shapes.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Wave phenomena
- Materials science
Background:
- Solid spheres and shells exhibit enhanced backscattering when illuminated by ultrasound.
- A leaky Rayleigh-like wave mechanism contributes to toroidal wavefronts, enhancing backscattering.
- Previous research established this effect for spheres and spherical shells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate enhanced backscattering in solid prolate brass spheroids under axisymmetric ultrasonic illumination.
- To identify the role of surface-guided waves in the scattering mechanism for non-spherical objects.
- To validate surface-guided ray theory for objects with variable curvature.
Main Methods:
- Utilized short tone burst ultrasound illumination for axisymmetric scattering.
- Employed bistatic measurements to analyze scattering contributions.
- Compared experimental results with theoretical predictions.
Main Results:
- Detected enhanced backscattering for solid prolate brass spheroids.
- Distinguished the axially focused scattering contribution from specular reflection using tone bursts.
- Experimental and theoretical data supported the Rayleigh wave mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced backscattering is observable in solid prolate spheroids due to surface-guided waves.
- The Rayleigh wave mechanism is a key factor in this acoustic phenomenon.
- Surface-guided ray theory is applicable to objects with variable curvature in acoustic scattering.
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