Laser Ultrasonic Phased Arrays for Remoter Sensing in Extreme Environments

The aim of the PhD study is to use laser ultrasonics for remote ultrasonic imaging, addressing the current technological limitations of conventional ultrasonic transducers. The technique uses lasers to generate and detect ultrasound and will have minimum impact on structures, will be electrically neutral and could be applied remotely, even in extreme environments or in places of restricted access, for in-line process monitoring or in-service inspection. The ambition of the PhD project is to translate this capability into safety-critical applications, for example imaging inside aero-engines, or during additive manufacturing, where conventional ultrasonic phased arrays cannot be applied.