Light-absorbing films have been utilized as optoacoustic transmitters for all optical ultrasound transducers. For these thin-film transmitters, however, optoacoustic conversion efficiencies (OCEs) and the output pressures have not been evaluated over a broadband and high frequency range. Here, we characterized such optoacoustic performance with high precision by using optical microring ultrasound detectors (OMUDs) under a plane wave configuration. We obtained ultrasound pulses minimizing diffraction-induced signal distortion, while maintaining broadband spectral information up to 100 MHz owing to the detector wideband response. In order to find an efficient thermal transfer medium for optoacoustic generation, we compared the OCEs and the output pressures for various polymers. Finally, a 2-D gold nanostructure with the polymer layer was characterized over the broadband frequency range.

Date Published: 28 February 2011
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 7899, Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2011, 789940 (28 February 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.875743

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7899:
Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2011
Alexander A. Oraevsky; Lihong V. Wang, Editor(s)