Abstract: A mid infrared range laser source for ultrasound inspection having a high energy laser coupled with one or more harmonic generation devices. The high energy laser may be a CO2 laser and tuned to emit laser light at a single wavelength. The harmonic generation devices convert the laser beam into the mid infrared range for optimal ultrasound inspection.

Abstract: A compact high average power mid infrared range laser for ultrasound inspection. The laser comprises one of a Nd:YAG or Yb:YAG laser pumped by a diode at 808 nm to produce a 1 micron output beam. The 1 micron output beam is directed to an optical parametric oscillator where the beam wavelength is converted to 1.94 microns and conveyed to a mid infrared emission head. The emission head comprises one of a Ho:YAG or Ho:YLG laser optically coupled with a second optical parametric oscillator. The second optical parametric oscillator forms a generation output beam for creating ultrasonic displacements on a target. The generation output beam wavelength ranges from about 3 to about 4 microns, and can be 3.2 microns.

Abstract: A method of spectroscopic analysis of a material using a laser ultrasound system. The method includes measuring amplitude displacement of a target surface that has been excited with a generation laser. The amplitude displacements relate to the target's optical absorption properties. Amplitude displacements are generated over a range of laser wavelengths to obtain an optical absorption signature useful to identify the target material characteristics.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonic testing comprising conditioning a radiation wave from a laser source by efficiently converting the radiation wave's wavelength to a mid-IR wavelength for enhanced ultrasonic testing of a composite. The method includes passing the radiation wave through a first optical frequency converter where the radiation wave is converted into a signal wave and an idler wave, where the idler wave is at a mid-IR wavelength. The method further includes directing the signal and idler waves to a second optical frequency converter where the signal wave wavelength is converted to a mid-IR wavelength which combines with the idler wave to form a generation wave. The generation wave is directed at a composite surface to be tested.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a laser system and method for the optical generation of ultrasound at a remote target. This involves generating a pump laser beam with a diode-pumped fiber laser. The diode pumped fiber laser is fiber-coupled with an optical fiber, either passive or diode pumped, to a generation laser head. The generation laser head generates a generation laser beam from the pump laser beam and directs the generation laser beam to the surface of the remote target. The interaction between generation laser beam and the surface of the remote target results in ultrasonic displacements at the remote target. These ultrasonic displacements may be sampled in order to assess and inspect the remote target.

Abstract: A system and method that replaces safety requirements of a laser detection system by shifting the wavelength of a detection laser. An optical wavelength converter that shifts the optical wavelength of a detection laser from a first wavelength within the Infrared “A” portion of the spectrum to a more eye-safe wavelength. The detection laser is directed to the surface of a remote target. Ultrasonic displacements at the surface scatter the filtered detection laser. Collection optics then gather phase modulated light scattered by the surface and direct the phase modulated light to an optical processor that produces a signal representative of the ultrasonic displacements. Signal processors then determine the internal structure of the remote target based on the signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention beneficially provide an ultrasound communication system and methods of ultrasound communication for diagnostics and prognostics of structures. For example, ultrasound transmitters are connected to a metal or composite structure and modulated to produce Lamb waves that travel to an ultrasound receiver. The ultrasound transmitters can use frequency-hopped signals to digitally encode transducer information among different transmitters. The transmitters can be operated asynchronously. The receiver can use a channel equalizer to reduce the effects of signal multipath and a decoder to decode the transducer information from the ultrasound transmitters.

Abstract: A compact high average power mid infrared range laser for ultrasound inspection. The laser comprises one of a Nd:YAG or Yb:YAG laser pumped by a diode at 808 nm to produce a 1 micron output beam. The 1 micron output beam is directed to an optical parametric oscillator where the beam wavelength is converted to 1.94 microns and conveyed to a mid infrared emission head. The emission head comprises one of a Ho:YAG or Ho:YLG laser optically coupled with a second optical parametric oscillator. The second optical parametric oscillator forms a generation output beam for creating ultrasonic displacements on a target. The generation output beam wavelength ranges from about 3 to about 4 microns, and can be 3.2 microns.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonic testing comprising conditioning a radiation wave from a laser source by efficiently converting the radiation wave's wavelength to a mid-IR wavelength for enhanced ultrasonic testing of a composite. The method includes passing the radiation wave through a first optical frequency converter where the radiation wave is converted into a signal wave and an idler wave, where the idler wave is at a mid-IR wavelength. The method further includes directing the signal and idler waves to a second optical frequency converter where the signal wave wavelength is converted to a mid-IR wavelength which combines with the idler wave to form a generation wave. The generation wave is directed at a composite surface to be tested.

Abstract: A method of spectroscopic analysis of a material using a laser ultrasound system. The method includes measuring amplitude displacement of a target surface that has been excited with a generation laser. The amplitude displacements relate to the target's optical absorption properties. Amplitude displacements are generated over a range of laser wavelengths to obtain an optical absorption signature useful to identify the target material characteristics.

Abstract: A mid infrared range laser source for ultrasound inspection that comprises a high energy laser coupled with one or more harmonic generation devices. The high energy laser may be a CO2 laser and tuned to emit laser light at a single wavelength. The harmonic generation devices convert the laser beam into the mid infrared range for optimal ultrasound inspection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a laser system and method for the optical generation of ultrasound at a remote target. This involves generating a pump laser beam with a diode-pumped fiber laser. The diode pumped fiber laser is fiber-coupled with an optical fiber, either passive or diode pumped, to a generation laser head. The generation laser head generates a generation laser beam from the pump laser beam and directs the generation laser beam to the surface of the remote target. The interaction between generation laser beam and the surface of the remote target results in ultrasonic displacements at the remote target. These ultrasonic displacements may be sampled in order to assess and inspect the remote target.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning internal channels in an article are presented, with the method comprising providing an article that comprises at least one internal channel. The at least one internal channel comprises at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. The method further comprises providing a cleaning apparatus, and this cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning fluid, a reservoir containing the cleaning fluid, a transmitter of vibrational energy projecting into the reservoir the transmitter comprising a transmitter tip and a source of vibrational energy coupled to the transmitter, with the vibrational energy comprising a frequency and a wavelength. The reservoir of the provided apparatus comprises an interface adapted to accommodate attachment of the reservoir to the article, and this interface comprises an orifice to allow fluid communication between the reservoir and the at least one internal channel of the article.

Abstract: The invention provides for ultrasonically measuring the porosity in a sample composite material by accessing only one side of the sample composite material and includes the steps of measuring a sample ultrasonic signal from the sample composite material, normalizing the sample ultrasonic signal relative to the surface echo of the sample composite material, and isolating a sample back-wall echo signal from the sample ultrasonic signal. A sample frequency spectrum of the sample back-wall ultrasonic signal is then determined. Next, the method and system include the steps of measuring a reference ultrasonic signal from a reference composite material, normalizing the reference ultrasonic signal relative to the surface echo of the reference composite material; and isolating a reference back-wall echo signal from the sample ultrasonic signal. A reference frequency spectrum of the reference back-wall ultrasonic signal is then determined.