Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for performing ultrasound optical imaging with respect to a sample in which an acoustic field is generated in response to a stimulus. The apparatus comprises a sensor head having an acoustically sensitive surface arranged as a reflective surface of a Fabry Perot interferometric cavity, wherein, when the acoustically sensitive surface is placed against the sample, in use, the acoustic field generated in response to said stimulus is incident upon said acoustically sensitive surface to modulate the optical path length in the cavity with a signal indicative of the acoustic field. Interrogation of the sensor head is performed based on regions having common bias phase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for performing ultrasound optical imaging with respect to a sample in which an acoustic field is generated in response to a stimulus. The apparatus comprises a sensor head having an acoustically sensitive surface arranged as a reflective surface of a Fabry Perot interferometric cavity, wherein, when the acoustically sensitive surface is placed against the sample, in use, the acoustic field generated in response to said stimulus is incident upon said acoustically sensitive surface to modulate the optical path length in the cavity with a signal indicative of the acoustic field. Interrogation of the sensor head is performed based on regions having common bias phase.