Ultrasonics International 91 is a documentation of conference proceedings that discusses the status and future of acoustic microscopy and its application to materials research, especially focusing on its quantitative analyses. Acoustic microscopy, using focused waves, has been receiving increased attention as a technology applicable to materials characterization at the microscopic scale. In acoustic microscopy, the excitation and propagation of leaky surface acoustic waves (LSAWs) in the environment of the coupling liquid at the solid specimens are observed. Three types of the systems have been developed: point-focus-beam (PFB), line-focus-beam (LFB), and directional PFB acoustic microscopes. In this paper, a brief history of the practical developments is first presented, followed by LFB acoustic microscopy for quantitative material characterization and some applications concerned with characterization of elastic anisotropy and inhomogeneity of electronic materials, such as LiNb03 and LiTa03 single crystals, and thin-film characterization. This book gives a comprehensive account of the majority of the oral and poster contributions made during the conference, and makes a valuable addition to a student or researchers’ ultrasonic literature.

Ultrasonics International 93: Conference Proceedings presents a comprehensive account of the presentations given in the Ultrasonics International 93 conference. It discusses a blood flow mapping system using ultrasonic waves. It addresses the dynamical response functions of elastically anisotropic solids. Some of the topics covered in the book are the ultrasonic waves propagation in a liquid producing radicals; ultrasonic characterization of interfaces; surface acoustic wave measurements; line-focus-beam acoustic microscopy; investigation of fatigue cracks in steels using spherical lens scanning acoustic microscopy; and the phenomenon of ultrasonic light diffraction. The description of bichromatic tunable acousto-optic separator is fully covered. The diffraction phenomenon affecting the properties of the fibre-optic sensor system is discussed in detail. The text describes in depth the opto-acoustic measurement of ultrasound velocity in a solidifying polymer. The evaluation of microfracture due to thermal shock using acoustic emission is completely presented. A chapter is devoted to the detection of a weak adhesive and adherent interface in bonded joints. The book can provide useful information to engineers, students, and researchers.