Schlieren imaging
Encyclopedia
Schlieren imaging is a method to visualize density variations in transparent media;
in particular, the term "Schlieren imaging" refers to the implementation of schlieren photography
(also: Schlieren
) to visualize the pressure field produced by ultrasonic transducer, generally in water or in other tissue-mimicking media. The method provides a two-dimensional (2D) projection image of the acoustic beam in real-time ("Live Video").
The unique properties of the method enable the investigation of specific features of the acoustic field (e.g. focal point in HIFU transducers), detection of acoustic beam-profile irregularities (e.g. due to defects in transducer) and on-line identification of time-dependent phenomena
(e.g. in phased array transducers
). Some researchers say that Schlieren imaging is equivalent to an X-ray radiograph
of the acoustic field.
Parallel beam, focusing element, stop (sharp edge) and a camera.
The parallel beam may be achieved by a point-like light source (a laser focused into a pinhole is sometimes used) placed in the focal point of a collimating optical element (lens or mirror).
The focusing element may be a lens or a mirror.
The optical stop may be realized by a razor placed horizontally or vertically in the focal point of the focusing element, carefully positioned to block the light spot image on its edge.
The camera is positioned behind the stop and may be equipped with a suitable lens.
The rays cross through the transparent medium while potentially interacting with the contained acoustic field, and finally reach the focusing element.
Note that the principle of a focusing element is directing (i.e. focusing) rays that are parallel - into a single point on the focal plane of the element.
Thus, the population of rays crossing the focal plane of the focusing element can be divided into two groups: those that interacted with the acoustic field and those that didn't. The latter group is undisturbed by the acoustic field, so it remains parallel and forms a point in a well-defined position in the focal plane. The optical stop is positioned exactly at that point, so as to prevent all corresponding rays from further propagating through the system and to the camera.
Thus we get rid of the portion of light that crossed the acoustic field without interaction.
However, there are also rays that did interact with the acoustic field in the following manner:
If a ray travels through a region of nonuniform density whose spatial gradient has a component orthogonal to the ray, that ray is deflected from its original orientation, as if it were passing through a prism
. This ray is no longer parallel, so it doesn't intersect the focal point of the focusing element and is not blocked by the knife. In some circumstances the deflected ray escapes the knife-blade and reaches the camera to create a point-like image on the camera-sensor, with a position and intensity related to the inhomogeneity experienced by the ray. An image is formed in this way, exclusively by rays that interacted with the acoustic field, providing a mapping of the acoustic field.
effect couples the optical refractive index
of the medium with its density and pressure. Thus, spatial and temporal variations in pressure (e.g., due to ultrasound radiation) induces corresponding variations in refractive index. Optical wavelength
and wavenumber
in medium depend on refractive index. The phase
acquired by electromagnetic wave
traveling through the medium is related to the line-integral of the wavenumber along the propagation line.
For a plane-wave electromagnetic radiation traveling parallel to the Z-axis, the XY planes are iso-phase manifolds (regions of constant phase; the phase does not depend on coordinates (x,y)). However, when the wave emerges from the acoustic field, XY planes are not iso-phase manifoldes anymore; the information about the accumulated pressure along each (x,y) line resides in the phase of the emerging radiation, forming a phase image (phasor) in the XY plane. The phase information is given by the Raman-Nath parameter :
with
- the piezooptic coefficient, 
the optical wavelength and
the three-dimensional pressure field.
The Schlieren technique converts the phase information into an intensity image, detectable by a camera or a screen.
. However, scanning the acoustic field with a hydrophone suffers from several limitations, giving rise to supplementary evaluation methods such as the Schlieren imaging. The importance of the Schlieren imaging technique is prominent in HIFU research and development.
Advantages of Schlieren imaging include:
in particular, the term "Schlieren imaging" refers to the implementation of schlieren photography
Schlieren photography
Schlieren photography is a visual process that is used to photograph the flow of fluids of varying density. Invented by the German physicist August Toepler in 1864 to study supersonic motion, it is widely used in aeronautical engineering to photograph the flow of air around objects...
(also: Schlieren
Schlieren
Schlieren are optical inhomogeneities in transparent material not visible to the human eye. Schlieren physics developed out of the need to produce high-quality lenses devoid of these inhomogeneities. These inhomogeneities are localized differences in optical path length that cause light deviation...
) to visualize the pressure field produced by ultrasonic transducer, generally in water or in other tissue-mimicking media. The method provides a two-dimensional (2D) projection image of the acoustic beam in real-time ("Live Video").
The unique properties of the method enable the investigation of specific features of the acoustic field (e.g. focal point in HIFU transducers), detection of acoustic beam-profile irregularities (e.g. due to defects in transducer) and on-line identification of time-dependent phenomena
(e.g. in phased array transducers
Phased array ultrasonics
Phased Array ultrasonics is an advanced method of ultrasonic testing that has applications in medical imaging and industrial nondestructive testing. In medicine a common application of phased array is the imaging of the heart...
). Some researchers say that Schlieren imaging is equivalent to an X-ray radiograph
Radiography
Radiography is the use of X-rays to view a non-uniformly composed material such as the human body. By using the physical properties of the ray an image can be developed which displays areas of different density and composition....
of the acoustic field.
Setup
The optical setup of a Schlieren imaging system may comprise the following main sections:Parallel beam, focusing element, stop (sharp edge) and a camera.
The parallel beam may be achieved by a point-like light source (a laser focused into a pinhole is sometimes used) placed in the focal point of a collimating optical element (lens or mirror).
The focusing element may be a lens or a mirror.
The optical stop may be realized by a razor placed horizontally or vertically in the focal point of the focusing element, carefully positioned to block the light spot image on its edge.
The camera is positioned behind the stop and may be equipped with a suitable lens.
Ray optics description
A parallel beam is described as a group of straight and parallel 'rays'.The rays cross through the transparent medium while potentially interacting with the contained acoustic field, and finally reach the focusing element.
Note that the principle of a focusing element is directing (i.e. focusing) rays that are parallel - into a single point on the focal plane of the element.
Thus, the population of rays crossing the focal plane of the focusing element can be divided into two groups: those that interacted with the acoustic field and those that didn't. The latter group is undisturbed by the acoustic field, so it remains parallel and forms a point in a well-defined position in the focal plane. The optical stop is positioned exactly at that point, so as to prevent all corresponding rays from further propagating through the system and to the camera.
Thus we get rid of the portion of light that crossed the acoustic field without interaction.
However, there are also rays that did interact with the acoustic field in the following manner:
If a ray travels through a region of nonuniform density whose spatial gradient has a component orthogonal to the ray, that ray is deflected from its original orientation, as if it were passing through a prism
Prism (optics)
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use...
. This ray is no longer parallel, so it doesn't intersect the focal point of the focusing element and is not blocked by the knife. In some circumstances the deflected ray escapes the knife-blade and reaches the camera to create a point-like image on the camera-sensor, with a position and intensity related to the inhomogeneity experienced by the ray. An image is formed in this way, exclusively by rays that interacted with the acoustic field, providing a mapping of the acoustic field.
Physical optics description
The acousto-opticAcousto-optics
Acousto-optics is a branch of physics that studies the interactions between sound waves and light waves, especially the diffraction of laser light by ultrasound or sound in general.-Introduction:...
effect couples the optical refractive index
Refractive index
In optics the refractive index or index of refraction of a substance or medium is a measure of the speed of light in that medium. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the considered medium....
of the medium with its density and pressure. Thus, spatial and temporal variations in pressure (e.g., due to ultrasound radiation) induces corresponding variations in refractive index. Optical wavelength
Wavelength
In physics, the wavelength of a sinusoidal wave is the spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.It is usually determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a...
and wavenumber
Wavenumber
In the physical sciences, the wavenumber is a property of a wave, its spatial frequency, that is proportional to the reciprocal of the wavelength. It is also the magnitude of the wave vector...
in medium depend on refractive index. The phase
Phase (waves)
Phase in waves is the fraction of a wave cycle which has elapsed relative to an arbitrary point.-Formula:The phase of an oscillation or wave refers to a sinusoidal function such as the following:...
acquired by electromagnetic wave
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
traveling through the medium is related to the line-integral of the wavenumber along the propagation line.
For a plane-wave electromagnetic radiation traveling parallel to the Z-axis, the XY planes are iso-phase manifolds (regions of constant phase; the phase does not depend on coordinates (x,y)). However, when the wave emerges from the acoustic field, XY planes are not iso-phase manifoldes anymore; the information about the accumulated pressure along each (x,y) line resides in the phase of the emerging radiation, forming a phase image (phasor) in the XY plane. The phase information is given by the Raman-Nath parameter :
with
- the piezooptic coefficient, the optical wavelength and the three-dimensional pressure field.The Schlieren technique converts the phase information into an intensity image, detectable by a camera or a screen.
Application
The acceptable gold-standard for quantitative acoustic measurement is the hydrophoneHydrophone
A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change...
. However, scanning the acoustic field with a hydrophone suffers from several limitations, giving rise to supplementary evaluation methods such as the Schlieren imaging. The importance of the Schlieren imaging technique is prominent in HIFU research and development.
Advantages of Schlieren imaging include:
- Free field: the investigated acoustic field is not distorted by the measuring probe.
- High intensity measurements: the method is compatible with high acoustic intensities.
- Real time: Schlieren imaging system provides on-line, live video of the acoustic field.