Laser Generated Ultrasound

Abstract

This paper describes a laser-based ultrasonic system using high-energy, short-pulse trains for laser generation. Ongoing research includes the theoretical extension of laser-solid interactions related to laser generation of ultrasound in complex structures and advanced materials and the investigation of methods to achieve a high speed, high resolution laser excitation system for integration with a highly sensitive ultrasonic signal detector. Experiments are being conducted for the flaw inspection/characterization of rails using laser-based photoacoustic excitation techniques including ultrasonic detection by both piezoelectric and noncontacting laser interferometric means. This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Transportation under Contract No. DTRS-57-85-C-00132