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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
08:21
Wideband Optical Detector of Ultrasound for Medical Imaging Applications
Published on: May 11, 2014
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Integrated optomechanical ultrasonic sensors with nano-Pascal-level sensitivity.
Xuening Cao1,2, Hao Yang1,2, Min Wang1,2
1Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|March 17, 2026
Summary
A new optomechanical ultrasonic sensor offers superior sensitivity for underwater and biological applications. This photonic platform achieves record low noise-equivalent pressure, enhancing object detection and imaging capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optomechanics
- Acoustics
Background:
- Ultrasonic sensors are crucial for underwater and biological detection.
- Conventional piezoelectric transducers face limitations in sensitivity, range, and resolution.
- Advanced photonic sensors are surpassing traditional technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel optomechanical ultrasonic sensor integrated into a photonic platform.
- To achieve enhanced sensitivity and performance beyond conventional ultrasonic sensors.
- To showcase the sensor's versatility in various applications.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a suspended SiO2 membrane with a high-Q Si3N4 microring resonator.
- Exploitation of simultaneous optical and mechanical resonances for sensing.
- Demonstration in photoacoustic gas spectroscopy and underwater ultrasound imaging.
Main Results:
- Record low noise-equivalent pressure (NEP) achieved: 218 nPa/Hz^1/2 at 289 kHz (air) and 9.6 nPa/Hz^1/2 at 52 kHz (water).
- Minimum detectable C2H2 concentration of 2.9 ppm demonstrated in photoacoustic gas spectroscopy.
- Ultrasound imaging resolution of 1.89 mm achieved in underwater applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed optomechanical ultrasonic sensor represents a significant advancement in compact, CMOS-compatible ultrasound sensing.
- The sensor's high sensitivity and versatility unlock new possibilities in biomedical imaging, environmental monitoring, and underwater communications.
- This technology paves the way for next-generation ultrasonic sensing platforms.
