Ultrasonic diffraction grating spectroscopy and characterization of fluids and slurries.

The ultrasonic diffraction grating is formed by machining triangular grooves, 300 microns apart, on a stainless steel surface. The grating surface is in contact with the liquid or slurry. The ultrasonic beam, traveling in the solid, strikes the back of the grating and produces a transmitted m=1 beam in the liquid. The angle of this beam in the liquid increases with decreasing frequency and the critical frequency FCR occurs when the angle is 90 degrees. At frequencies below FCR, this m=1 wave does not exist and its energy is shared with other types of waves. The signal of the reflected m=0 wave is observed and an increase is observed at FCR. This information yields the velocity of sound in the liquid and particle size.