SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC ALIGNMENT AND FOCUSING OF LIGHT IN LASER ULTRASOUND TESTING

• Main Authors: Bingham, Jill P, O'Donnell, Matthew, Pelivanov, Ivan, Georgeson, Gary E, Stewart, Alan F, Motzer, William P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.05.2020
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

A method for testing a structure using laser ultrasound includes steps of: (1) directing positioning light on a surface of the structure; (2) determining a spatial location and a spatial orientation of the surface from an evaluation of the positioning light reflected back from the surface; (3) directing pump light onto the surface to generate ultrasonic waves in the structure; (4) selectively locating a probe-light focal point of probe light on the surface, based on the spatial location determined for the surface; (5) selectively angularly orienting the probe light normal to the surface, based on the spatial orientation determined for the surface; and (6) directing the probe light onto the surface to detect a response to the ultrasonic waves.