Acousto-optic method for ultrasonic pulse characterization

The light distribution in a diffraction pattern produced by a sequence of ultrasonic pulses depends on a number of parameters characterizing the pulse shape, modulation and sequencing as well as changes in the spectral composition due to non-linearities in the propagation medium. Based on calculations of such light diffraction patterns it is possible to consider the inverse problem, i.e. the determination of parameters mentioned above by evaluating certain features of the diffraction pattern produced by the pulses. A number of examples are given to illustrate these possibilities.