Three-dimensional selective imaging of sound sources

A technique for 3-D selective imaging of sound sources is described analytically and demonstrated experimentally. One-dimensional recordings of the acoustic field is measured using laser vibrometry. By applying digital holographic and tomographic algorithms to the acquired 1-D data, the full 3-D complex amplitude is reconstructed. The use of multiple frequencies in the spectral content of the acoustic field gives a number of advantages: higher spatial resolution, less noise in the reconstructed image, less sensitivity to noise in the measurements, and the possibility to perform selective imaging. Theory for all three steps-the measurement of sound using light, numerical propagation of waves, and finally the tomographic reconstruction in the process are given. In the experiment, the positions of three ultrasound sources are accurately determined and two different types of transducers are distinguished from each other. This multiwavelength technique could show to be a useful addition to optoacoustic imaging. (C) 2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [DOI: 10.1117/1.3093609]