Strong on-axis focal shift and its nonlinear variation in low-Fresnel-number ultrasound beams

We examine the case of focusing transducers with a strong initial (in linear regime) shift of the main on-axis peak pressure maximum from the geometrical focal point toward the transducer. Such transducers are characterized, using the concepts introduced in this paper, by a low Fresnel number. The displacement of this initially shifted on-axis pressure maximum point toward the geometrical focus, and its backward motion as the driving transducer voltage increases until highly nonlinear regimes, has been experimentally observed. The simultaneous monitoring of the temporal wave-form distortion determines the real roles and interplay between different nonlinear effects (refraction and attenuation) in the observed dynamics of the on-axis pressure maximum. The numerical solution of the corresponding mathematical model confirms the physical interpretation of the observed phenomenon. (c) 2006 Acoustical Society of America.