A Multielement Low-Frequency Ultrasonic Transducer as a Source of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Air

The acoustic and electrical properties of a 128-element ultrasonic transducer designed to generate high-intensity focused ultrasound in air in the low-frequency ultrasonic range are investigated. To reduce parasitic grating maxima of the acoustic field, a spiral arrangement of piezoelectric elements on a spherical base was used. The operating frequency of the transducer was 35.5 kHz, and the diameter of the source and focal length were approximately 50 cm, significantly exceeding the wavelength (approximately 1 cm). This selection of parameters allowed for effective focusing, with localization of wave energy in a small focal region, thereby achieving extremely high levels of ultrasonic intensity. The parameters of the ultrasonic field were studied using a combined approach that included microphone recording of the acoustic pressure and measuring the acoustic radiation force acting on a conical reflector. Acoustic source parameters were determined from the two-dimensional spatial distribution of the acoustic pressure waveform, which was measured by scanning the microphone in a transverse plane in front of the source. Numerical modeling of nonlinear wave propagation was also used based on the Westervelt equation to simulate the behavior of intense waves. The acoustic pressure level reached 173 dB, with a focal spot size comparable to the wavelength.