An ultrasonic transducer is an integral part of any ultrasonic device which may be used in a variety of applications ranging from medical imaging to bubble detection. The transducers cover a wide spectrum of frequencies from a few kilohertz to a few gigahertz. Although they carry such an importance in the performance of an ultrasonic device, there are many aspects of ultrasonic transducer engineering still poorly understood. In fact in current ultrasonic imagers, the transducer performance is a major limiting factor in preventing these systems from reaching the theoretical resolution.
This special issue, consisting of 22 papers and 3 correspondences, is devoted to a comprehensive discussion of all phases of ultrasonic transducer engineering, including novel piezoelectric material developments, modeling of transducers and arrays, multidimensional array design and fabrication, interconnection strategies, and recent progress in therapeutical devices. It is hoped that this special issue will provide new comers to the field a glimpse of the present state-of-the-art in ultrasonic transducer development and in the meantime it may serve as a valuable reference to the experienced workers in the field.
The advice and encouragement of Professor William O'Brien, the editor in chief, and the assistance of Mrs. Wanda Elliot in preparing the issue is gratefully acknowledged. Finally the guest editor would like to thank the authors for their contribution to the special issue and especially the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions and their willingness to undertake such an assignment. Without their help, this issue would not have been possible.
© 1997, by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved.