Linear piezoelectric sensor for optoacoustic tomography: electroacoustic characterization

In previous work we presented the implementation and electric characterization of a broadband piezoelectric polymer sensor with linear geometry, based on a thin film of polyvinylidene fluoride. In this paper we performed the electroacoustic characterization of the same sensor through the measurement of its response to short acoustic pulses (<50 ns), using a parametric model. We determined the polymer properties (relaxation time and acoustic attenuation), the reflexion coefficients of the water-polymer and polymer-substrate interfaces, the ultrasonic beam pattern and the sensitivity of the detector. The results of this work show that the implemented sensor is suitable for optoacoustic tomography detection systems.