Acoustic Gaussian-Airy beams

Acoustic Airy beams as non-diffractive beams possess self-bending, self-healing, and non-diffraction virtues and are expected to have great potential in applications like ultrasonic imaging. Here an analytical theory is provided for Gaussian modulated Airy (gAiry) acoustic beams. It is revealed through numerical calculations and finite element simulations that gAiry beams inherit the merits mentioned above of standard Airy beams. In theoretically predicted and more practical cases where sources of limited apertures generate beams, reduction of side lobes is found in gAiry fields, while bilateral focusing using a pair of beams shows improved field features when compared with focused Airy fields. The theories and observations here can help deploy gAiry beams in applications.

Automated summary

This paper provides an analytical theory for Gaussian modulated Airy (gAiry) acoustic beams and reveals that gAiry beams inherit the advantages of standard Airy beams. Numerical calculations and finite element simulations show that side lobes are reduced in gAiry fields generated by sources of limited apertures, and bilateral focusing using a pair of beams improves field features compared to focused Airy fields. The theories and observations presented in this paper can contribute to the deployment of gAiry beams in applications.