ASA 130th Meeting - St. Louis, MO - 1995 Nov 27 .. Dec 01

3pID2. Hot topics in physical acoustics.

Anthony A. Atchley

Phys. Dept., Naval Postgrad. School, Monterey, CA 93943

The field of physical acoustics involves: (1) the use of our understanding of the parameters governing propagation of acoustic waves in and interaction of acoustic waves with other systems to understand the structure and behavior of those systems; (2) the study of nonlinear acoustic propagation and phenomena; and (3) the use of acoustics to generate or stimulate physical processes. This hot topics presentation will draw on examples from each of these categories to demonstrate both the breadth of the field and how physical acoustics is closely tied to many other technical areas within the Society. Some specific topics are sonoluminescence, thermoacoustics, high intensity ultrasonic surgery, sonic booms, imaging at the nanometer scale, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, and applications of modulated radiation pressure to fluid mechanics.