Optical ultrasound detection

Resolving small structures requires detection of high-frequency ultrasound. Conventional piezoelectric detectors can become limiting in sensitivity, bandwidth, or geometry.

This project explores optical approaches to ultrasound detection, using light as a sensitive probe of pressure waves generated by photoacoustic excitation.

Goals

• Increase sensitivity to weak high-frequency acoustic signals.
• Develop detector geometries compatible with biological imaging.
• Integrate optical detection with photoacoustic reconstruction.