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W Grill

Publications and source records attributed to W Grill.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

On interference effects in the elastodynamic Green's functions G33(x, omega) of Si and GaAs.

In this paper, we analyze interference effects present in the elastodynamic Green's functions G33(x,omega) of the cubic crystals Si and GaAs, which are associated with folded portions of the wave surface of the slow transverse (ST) acoustic mode. G33(x,omega) represents the three dimensional extension of the amplitude distribution imaged in the transmission acoustic microscopy of these crystals. The intensity contrast for oscillations of a particular wave vector k in the interference pattern is determined essentially by the 3D Fourier transform of G33(x,omega)G33*(x,omega). According to the Fourier autocorrelation theorem, that transform is equivalent to the autocorrelation function of the corresponding distribution G(33)(k,omega) in k-space. We show that due to the linear mapping between k-space and the slowness vector s-space, the interference phenomena discussed here are related to geometrical features of the slowness surface of the ST mode. We present calculations of these effects based on the angular spectrum technique.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Temporal and spatial apodization in defocused acoustic transmission microscopy.

Two non-confocally adjusted spherical transducers are employed to implement an acoustic microscope operating in transmission with an approximately line-shaped point spread function (PSF). Such a PSF is of advantage in acoustic transmission line tomography and spatially resolved velocity measurements in solids. The foci of the transducers are viewed as diffraction-limited point transducers and appropriate time-selective signal acquisition is designed to restrict the ultrasound wave paths to the line connecting them. It is found that for typical commercially available transducers the largest contribution to the detected signal is not due to the direct ultrasound wave but due to the edge waves emanating from the rim of the focusing transducer. This poses constraints on achieving a line-shaped PSF in defocused acoustic transmission microscopy. It is shown that, due to the strong contribution from edge waves, it is impossible to achieve a line-shaped PSF in the case of application of a long exciting toneburst. The influence of the exciting pulse length, as well as the position of the time gate on the obtainable PSF is investigated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of polymer thin films by phase-sensitive acoustic microscopy and atomic force microscopy: a comparative review.

The potential of phase-sensitive acoustic microscopy (PSAM) for characterizing polymer thin films is reviewed in comparison to atomic force microscopy (AFM). This comparison is based on results from three-dimensional vector contrast imaging and multimodal imaging using PSAM and AFM, respectively. The similarities and differences between the information that can be derived from the AFM topography and phase images, and the PSAM phase and amplitude micrographs are examined. In particular, the significance of the PSAM phase information for qualitative and quantitative characterization of the polymer films is examined for systems that generate surface waves, and those that do not. The relative merits, limitations and outlook of both techniques, individually, and as a complementary pair, are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Phase-sensitive acoustic microscopy of polymer thin films.

The three-dimensional images obtained by scanning acoustic microscopy with vector contrast (PSAM), contain significant qualitative and quantitative information that is not easily obtainable by other methods. We employ this technique to examine homopolymer and polymer blend thin films. The complex V(z) functions derived from the images, and the results obtained by image processing and meticulous analysis are employed to render the morphology, composition and micro-mechanical properties of the polymer films. In addition, ways by which the information inherent in the phase images can be extracted are examined. This is highly desirable, as the phase images contain very useful additional information.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Inversion of acoustic diffraction fields in anisotropic solids.

We show that the fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique provides a computationally efficient method of calculating 2D amplitude and phase images of complex wave fields generated and measured in elastically anisotropic solids by phase sensitive acoustic microscopy. Further, we discuss how this technique can be used to treat inverse problems such as source reconstruction, image quality assessment, and the determination of elastic constants.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Scanning acoustic Doppler microscopy and scanning acoustic correlation microscopy.

Acoustic microscopy with vector contrast at 100 MHz in a fluid with immersed particles is used to detect the flow profile in front of a microscopic orifice. The velocity profile concerning the component in axial direction of the focused beam is derived from the phase contrast. Possibilities to resolve the flow profile also for the components in normal direction with respect to the axis are demonstrated. The methods concerning measurement techniques and data evaluation for scanning acoustic Doppler microscopy are presented. For scanning acoustic correlation microscopy the time dependent phase and amplitude signals resulting from sound waves scattered by the immersed particles (aluminium flakes with a typical diameter of 10 microm) have been analysed by correlation procedures. From the obtained autocorrelation functions the velocity distribution can be derived. Both methods can be applied simultaneously. Data analysis is based on the information contained in the originally obtained images in vector contrast derived from temporal and spatial resolved analogue and digital processing of the acoustic signals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Titanium powder sintering for preparation of a porous functionally graded material destined for orthopaedic implants.

This work focuses on basic research into a P/M processed, porous-surfaced and functionally graded material (FGM) destined for a permanent skeletal replacement implant with improved structural compatibility. Based on a perpendicular gradient in porosity the Young's modulus of the material is adapted to the elastic properties of bone in order to prevent stress shielding effects and to provide better long-term performance of the implant-bone system. Using coarse Ti particle fractions the sintering process was accelerated by silicon-assisted liquid-phase sintering (LPS) resulting in a substantial improvement of the neck geometry. A novel evaluation for the strength of the sinter contacts was proposed. The Young's modulus of uniform non-graded stacks ranged from 5 to 80 GPa as determined by ultrasound velocity measurements. Thus, the typical range for cortical bone (10-29 GPa) was covered. The magnitude of the Poisson's ratio proved to be distinctly dependent on the porosity. Specimens with porosity gradients were successfully fabricated and characterized using quantitative description of the microstructural geometry and acoustic microscopy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Synthetic aperture imaging by scanning acoustic microscopy with vector contrast

Based on phase sensitive scanning acoustic microscopy (PSAM), a novel scheme suitable for volume imaging has been developed. The method employs synthetic aperture insonification combined with synthetic aperture imaging. Excitation and detection are performed by planar scanning of two focusing transducer and vector (phase and amplitude) detectors for the ultrasonic wave packages observed in transmission. Examples for applications of the scheme, including technically relevant simplifications based on reduced dimensions of the scan ranges, are presented. Detection schemes already applied for non-destructive testing (NDT) and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the mechanical properties of functionally graded materials are an example for the application of the generalised approach presented here with reduced dimensions of the scan. The technique is suitable for NDT and NDE imaging respectively with three-dimensional resolution.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Angular spectrum approach for the computation of group and phase velocity surfaces of acoustic waves in anisotropic materials

The decomposition of an acoustic wave into its angular spectrum representation creates an effective base for the calculation of wave propagation effects in anisotropic media. In this method, the distribution of acoustic fields is calculated in arbitrary planes from the superposition of the planar components with proper phase shifts. These phase shifts depend on the ratio of the distance between the planes to the normal component of the phase slowness vector. In anisotropic media, the phase shifts depend additionally on the changes of the slowness with respect to the direction of the propagation vector and the polarization. Those relations are obtained from the Christoffel equation. The method employing the fast Fourier transformation algorithm is especially suited for volume imaging in anisotropic media, based on holographic detection in transmission of acoustic waves generated by a point source. This technique is compared with measurements on crystals performed by phase-sensitive scanning acoustic microscopy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Ultrasonic monitoring of zeolite synthesis in real time

Variations of the phase and amplitude of a transmitted ultrasonic wave package were monitored in real time during the synthesis of zeolite A and zeolite X. For both materials, characteristic changes of the measured attenuation and the sound velocity of ultrasonic waves traveling in the reaction fluid were observed, correlating with the processes of gel formation and zeolite crystallization, respectively. Aging effects of the reaction fluids are demonstrated. The observation of the onset of the zeolite crystallization was verified with ex-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Viscoelastic properties of f-actin, microtubules, f-actin/alpha-actinin, and f-actin/hexokinase determined in microliter volumes with a novel nondestructive method.

A nondestructive method to determine viscoelastic properties of gels and fluids involves an oscillating glass fiber serving as a sensor for the viscosity of the surrounding fluid. Extremely small displacements (typically 1-100 nm) are caused by the glass rod oscillating at its resonance frequency. These displacements are analyzed using a phase-sensitive acoustic microscope. Alterations of the elastic modulus of a fluid or gel change the propagation speed of a longitudinal acoustic wave. The system allows to study quantities as small as 10 microliters with temporal resolution >1 Hz. For 2-100 microM f-actin gels a final viscosity of 1.3-9.4 mPa s and a final elastic modulus of 2.229-2.254 GPa (corresponding to 1493-1501 m/s sound velocity) have been determined. For 10- to 100-microM microtubule gels (native, without stabilization by taxol), a final viscosity of 1.5-124 mPa s and a final elastic modulus of 2.288-2. 547 GPa (approximately 1513-1596 m/s) have been determined. During polymerization the sound velocity in low-concentration actin solutions increased up to +1.3 m/s (approximately 1.69 kPa) and decreased up to -7 m/s (approximately 49 kPa) at high actin concentrations. On polymerization of tubulin a concentration-dependent decrease of sound velocity was observed, too (+48 to -12 m/s approximately 2.3-0.1 MPa, for 10- to 100-microM tubulin). This decrease was interpreted by a nematic phase transition of the actin filaments and microtubules with increasing concentration. 2 mM ATP (when compared to 0.2 mM ATP) increased polymerization rate, final viscosity and elastic modulus of f-actin (17 microM). The actin-binding glycolytic enzyme hexokinase also accelerated the polymerization rate and final viscosity but elastic modulus (2.26 GPa) was less than for f-actin polymerized in presence of 0.2 mM ATP (2.28 GPa).

Acoustics↗
PubMed1984

[Advances in liver surgery].

In corroboration of previous research results our own investigations show that advances in liver surgery are achieved above all by early and considerably extended clinical diagnosis as well as by decisively improved surgical technique. Supporting measures such as mebendazole medication in the surgical management of echinococcosis have an important share in successful treatment. However, there is no doubt that, even today, liver surgery is not the routine operation ranking equal with biliary or gastric surgery.

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