Year: 1977
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: We have constructed, using lasers and optical components, a simulator for acoustic waves propagating in a nonhomogeneous two-dimensional ocean. The resulting wavelength scaling provides for the contraction of tens of kilometer ocean distances to centimeter distances on the optical bench. Ocean velocity profiles which vary in range and depth are created by inducing a temperature distribution in a fluid with a high velocity-temperature gradient. This is produced by imaging a transparency (with the desired distribution) using a high-power-pulse ruby laser onto the fluid. A blue dye in the fluid selectively absorbs the ruby light. The acoustic beam is simulated by a cw blue argon-ion laser and the source and receiver patterns are generated via appropriate optics. Subwavelength-size scatters make the blue beam visible from the side providing a photographic measure of sound intensity at all ranges and depths. A simultaneous measurement of the light velocity profile is made using a Michelson interferometer. The timing of the experiment consists of a 1-msec ruby pulse immediately followed by a 1-msec shuttering of the sound wave simulating and interferometer laser beams. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.]
DOI: 10.1121/1.2016049
Authors: L. E. Estes, G. Fain
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1965000156