NONLINEAR PROPAGATION OF A QUASI-PLANE CONJUGATE ULTRASONIC BEAM

Calculated data and experimental results of the study of nonlinear pro pagation of a quasi-plane conjugate ultrasonic beam in water are prese nted. Quantitative agreement of these results is obtained for the init ial intensity of the conjugate beam 2 W/cm(2) in the area before shock formation. An increase of the waveform distortion is observed with th e increasing intensity of the conjugate beam and with the distance tra veled by the beam. By a numerical simulation of the conditions close t o the experimental ones, it is demonstrated that, up to the aforementi oned intensity value, the distortions of the transversal profile of th e conjugate beam are caused mainly by the finite size of the conjugato r aperture.