Optical Underwater Acoustic Sensor

Abstract

An acoustic sensor used in underwater applications. The sensor includes a reflective material adhered to one side of a structure, such as an outer submarine hull or any marine vessel hull. A laser interferometer is placed on the side of the structure with the reflective material. The laser interferometer sends a plurality of laser beams, in sequence or all at one time, to a plurality of points across the retro-reflective material. The laser beams reflect back to the interferometer, which captures the reflected beams using receiving optics. The phase modulation of the reflected laser beams is compared to a reference laser beam within the interferometer to obtain the vibration velocity characteristics of the hull surface structure. Since the reflective material is adhered to the structure, the structure vibration is the same as the vibration of the reflective material. From this vibration, the acoustic pressure associated with the structure may be calculated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 25, 2005
Accession Number
ADD020196

Entities

People

  • Lynn T. Antonelli

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Detectors
  • Acoustic Impedance
  • Acoustic Signatures
  • Acoustics
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Environment
  • Inventions
  • Materials
  • Modulation
  • Optical Fibers
  • Phase Modulation
  • Reflection
  • Submarine Hulls
  • Transducers
  • Underwater Structures
  • Vibration

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Structural Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy