Research Title

Photoacoustic Signal Generation

for
Air - Underwater Communication
Rep.Type: -Semi- Annual Progress Report(Lit.Survey)

By: Col Ayele Ossa Leka (PhD Scholar)

Guide: Dr. Devnath Dhirhe, Associate Prof. ,
Dept. of Applied Physics, DIAT, India

6 Feb, 2023, Pune, India

1
 Outline
1.. General
1.1 The objectives of the Research work
1.2 Motivation
2. Photoacoustic Signal Generation
2.1 History, and background review
2.2 Photoacoustic signal Generation
process
2.3. Photoacoustic Signal Generation &
mathematical model
2.4 Methods of Photoacoustic Signal
Generation
2.5.Application of photoacoustic waves
.
3. Underwater Communication
3.1 Definition
3.2 Why photoacoustic Air-underwater
communication ?
3.3. Significance of Air-Under water
Communications
3.6. Existing underwater
communications Technologies , Types &
Comparison.
3.9 working principle of Photoacoustic
Underwater communication
4. Literature review
4..1-6 Best paper presentation
4.2 Gap identified & challenges
5. Practical setup
6. work done so far & future plan
7. Acknowledgement
8. references
2
 1.1. Objective

General Objective : Study on Photoacoustic signal Generation for Air- Underwater

communication.

Specific objectives :-

1. Efficient Photoacoustic Signal Generation

2. Study/Demonstrate Downlink Photoacoustic

Underwater Communication
 1.2.Motivation [38]
Photoacoustic mechanism is predominately used in medical imaging; Yet, it has great
potential as a means of air to underwater communication
. The use of photoacoustic as a cross-medium communication has high
potential to morph the classical way of approaching a solution in
underwater applications [38].

. Increasing demand for underwater communication for various

application

Limitations/ Challenges in conventional air-underwater

. communications still remain unsolved.

Laser is thought as a possible solution of

because it could penetrate the air-water
interface with only less than 10% energy loss

Open area for research

4
2. Photoacoustic Signal Generation

5
 2.1. History
History and and background
background survey
survey [13,

• Photoacoustic or Optoacoustic Energy conversion means converting light

Energy into acoustic or Sound energy [28].
• Bell discovered the photoacoustic effect in 1880 [13]
• After inventing the telephone in 1876, Bell began focusing his attention
on an ingenious concept—the use of light in the transmission of speech.
• The photosensitivity of selenium had been discovered in 1873 by Bell.
• on 21 April 1881 Bell envisaged a form of communication in which the electrical receiver employed in the
selenium-cell variant of the photophone would be replaced by a lamp-black receiver, which would directly
convert the light modulations into speech.
• During World War I (1910th) , some isolated attempts to put the photophone to use for military coms.
• The German Navy, British Admiralty, and the U.S.-+ were made independently photophone .
• In 1980th , Laser made an evolution in light- sound interaction.
• Early 20th century, Revival of the optoacoustic effect application such as sensing and detecting CO2,, CO,
others
• 21th Evolution of photoacoustic effects for biomedical applications and now dominating all kinds.
• In 1999, The first time ultrashort pulse laser has been used to generate the sound under water in by Huijuan
He, China , published in IEEE after 100 years of Bell’s discovery ,
• Since then several researches have been done but Photoacoustic technology is Still immature for
underwater communication, remains at lab bench & demonstration stage.
6
 Cont’d
Various Names for Photoacoustic

Laser Induced acoustic

7
2.2 Photoacoustic signal Generation process

photoacoustic energy conversion means

converting light energy into acoustic energy.

There are effectively three mechanisms for

generating underwater pressure waves using

a laser: Namely Dielectric Breakdown,

Vaporization, and thermoelastic Expansion.

It can be Linear & Nonlinear Photoacoustic

signal Generations depends upon the

source energy .

8
Mathematical Equations [43]

Wave equation Satisfies Maxwell's

Boundary condition

9
 2.3 Methods of photoacoustic wave
Generations [15]

Shock wave C

• The plane wave can be delivered without intensity drop over long distances.
• Spherical or Cylindrical waves intensity drops over long distances .
• As seen in the fig. the THz light does not induce any ionization, dissociation or structural
damage in molecules but It generates strong photoacoustic wave in water because of strong
absorption via a stretching vibrational mode of the hydrogen bond.
• It produces plane photoacoustic wave because the excitation of large area water Surface
irradiated by loosely focused THz light.
• It is non invasive/non destructive process posses insignificant risk
• It has great advantage for non destructive pressure wave generation in industrial and medical10
 2.4. Application of Photoacoustic waves/Signal

1. Gas and mineral sensing/detection [2] such as toxic& contaminated gas

detection. , leak detection in oil fields, mixture detection. Submarine
geological identification:
2. Imaging [28] such as Biomedical imaging [2] cancer, Timur, brain, real-life
imaging, ultrasound imaging (Sonography/Ultrasonography using high
frequency , biological studies , currently it dominates biological and
medical industry.
3. Underwater Searching and exploiting , monitoring.
4. Industrial & research applications such as ,defense, & military [3]
5. SONAR: sound Navigation & Ranging [
6. Photoacoustic microscopy:-
7. Photoacoustic Spectrometry ,
8. communication ,FSOC,, FOC,
Particulariy a Good candidate for Underwater communication ( lit. suggests) 11
3. Photoacoustic underwater communication

3.1. Definition
What is a Photoacoustic underwater communication?
• It is a Cross boundary communication established in-between
Atmosphere, air/water interface and water. Typically, the three
channel consideration.
• Atmosphere-Underwater
• Water surface –Underwater,
• Satellite/Space-Underwater
• Ground –Underwater , & between underwater links.
*It does not only mean the communication established in underwater
from one link to another*
.
12
3.2 Why photoacoustic Air-underwater communication?
Air/water interface is a great challenge for existing communication technologies.
1. Radio frequency works well in air, yet the signal strength diminishes drastically as
soon as it penetrates the water surface (10m). Moreover Active relay , and bulk
antenna , which is heavy & costly.
2. Infrared light, Terahertz wave, and microwave have large attenuation
coefficients, so they are basically untransmissible in water.
3. Acoustic signals are usually used underwater environments but they lose most
energy when crossing the air-water interface (65dB)
4. LED and laser have been pursued for cross medium communication, However,
neither LED nor laser light is good for long range communication due to the high
light absorption and beam scattering/turbulence , especially for a wavy water
surface,
• None of existing technologies are efficient/ sufficient in cross boundaries
communication.
• Long distance communication from air to underwater optoacoustic energy
conversion is indeed a viable option because Laser is best in Air & Acoustic is best
in underwater.
• it is much easier to establish coms link for receivers compare to optical beams.
13
 3.3. Significance of Air-Under water
Communications
Commercial application
• marine science, search and rescue 1.
• Surveillance applications [10],[4]
• Sound ranging and Navigation
• bathymetry [2], wreckage searching ]2]
2.
• Underwater Realtime monitoring,
underwater asset operation & control.
3.
• Environmental state monitoring &
reporting search and rescue, distributed 4.
surveillance, and Navigation, [4] 5.
• Underwater localization [38] ,
• Connect Overall internets of air- 6.
underwater things (IoUWT) [28] 7.
Défense application
Enables communication from an in-air
or sea surface or space platform to
underwater platform by employing an
underwater source for combat theatre.
Command, control, connect,
localization
Detection of underwater target:.
Water depth measurement:
Data , audio, Video, text transmission
for day –day basic life support.
Underwater Navigation .
Others
14
 USV:unmanned watersurface vehicl
Cont’d
Satellite

UGV:unmanned ground vehicle

UUV: Unmanned underwater

/Space UAV UAVs

UAV:unmanned air vehicle

USV

vehicle
UUV
UGV

( IoUT).

Worldwide, 75% of the earth surface is covered by water, out of this

96.5%of water holds by the oceans and seas.
It is a large amount of non-livable land. These territories remain
unexplored due to inability of machines to map a large area.
2030 Goal is covering the entire earth via Internet of Underwater things 15

( IoUT).
3.4. Existing underwater communications Technologies

(Active)

16
 3.5 Working principle of photoacoustic Air-
Under water communications [38]

Optional

Figure left shows the general

relay block diagram of air to
underwater communication
using PA signal.
.A high-power laser light source is required for PA communication.
Typically, a Q switch Nd: YAG laser is used for this kind of application .
• a modulator is used to encode the information that needs to be transmitted.
• Additional mirrors and lenses might be required to focus the laser light inside the water. Since the generated acoustic
signal is very broadband,
• a hydrophone with high bandwidth efficiency is required at the receiver end.- acoustic
• Hydrophone underwater microphone changes acoustic signal to electrical signal. The received signal is then amplified
17
by an amplifier before being decoded
 4. Literature survey

I have surveyed more than 35 relevant articles & review papers

But
I present only 7/ 8 best papers which are the most relevant to my
project area.

18
 4.1 Ultrashort Pulse Laser Used to Generate Sound
under Water
• Author: He H, Feng S.,1999, China, Publisher IEEE,
• This Proposed 100 years later Bell’s Discovery 0f PA.was 1st paper .
• In this paper, the ultrashort pulse laser has been used to
generate sound under water. An effect of induced lens has
been observed. There are two focusing points in water. One of
them is the convex lens used for the focusing laser beam to
produce focusing point. The other is the laser energy induced
lens which produces induced focus point. The time process
occurs when the index of water is changed; a different variety of
index is induced by laser beam. This phenomenon can be used
to estimate the response time of the changes of index in water.
When the Nd:YAG laser beam is focused by the convex
lens at 2 cm under the water surface, the hydrophone is
located at the 4 cm under the water surface and 1.5 cm
apart the laser beam. The waveform of the sound pulses
19
have been detected by hydrophone sucesssfully.
 4.2 Underwater acoustic signals induced by intense
Ultrashort laser pulse
Acoustic signals generated in water by terawatt (TW) .It delivers
transform-limited 50 fs pulses at 800 nm with energy of up to 290 mJ
per pulse at a repetition rate of 10 Hz, CPA , laser pulses undergoing
filamentation are studied. The acoustic signal has a very broad
spectrum, spanning from 0.1 to 10MHz and is confined in the plane
perpendicular to the laser direction. Such a source appears to be
promising for the development of remote laser based acoustic
applications. Hydrophone Signal Output
HF: 1–10 MHz,-
241dB
practical setup LF: 50-800kHZ,-
215dB

21cm
31,80cm
Yohann Brelet Et al., Fr
Acoustical society of America ,Date Accepted: March2012015
 2021 ,IEEE Int. Conference.

4.3.

The ultrasonic signal

receiver is composed of an
ultrasonic detector (5 MHz:
I5P6NF, Doppler, 500 kHz:
sensitivity : not specified,
Light absorber: unknown

The schematic diagram of photoacoustic air-to-underwater communication is displayed in Fig. 1.

The sender in the air (e.g., aircraft) uses pulsed laser to emit a coded laser beam (e.g., 11011)
with information. After transmission in the air, the laser radiates to the signal relay, which is a
light absorbing material released by the receiver (e.g., submarine).Pulsed ultrasonic signals
(i.e., photoacoustic waves) with the same code as the laser are generated from the signal
relay due to the photoacoustic effect. After transmission in water, the photoacoustic waves
can be detected by the receiver; then communication is finished by decoding.
21
 Result & conclusion
Input:-
Source : laser beam with wavelength of 660 nm (Red) and 14ns
pulse width at a repetition frequency of 1 kHz, output 27microjoule(
small energy)
Signal generator : information input
Relay used: Low cost passive relay but not specified.
Data input:11011
Results :11011 readout.
• Transfer of data for Downlink communication was successfully
achieved.
Highly efficient photoacoustic signal generation reported.
photoacoustic signals whose voltage ranges from ~100 mV to 1 V .
obtained.

downlink transfer of 19cm depth 2cm 22

data successfully done . shift Turbulence
4.4. Application of laser-induced acoustic method on air-
underwater communication
In this article ,Acoustic signals with high energy were generated in the
optical breakdown mechanism of a Nd: YAG laser having energy
approximately 35mJ, pulse widths about 10 ns. A DFB-FL hydrophone
was designed to receive the LIA signals for the various repeated
frequency of the pulsed laser.
A Simulation of Laser induced acoustic (LIA) in a distance of 400m
between laser spot on the water surface and the hydrophone was
performed by the COMSOL Multiphysic software.
The simulated results show the communicated ability of LIA technology
in the long distance.
1st simulation supported paper.
Practical setup

Yang Zhao , Et al. International Conference on

Space-Air-Ground Computing 23

(SAGC),IEEE,2021, produced in China

 Result & conclusion Practical LIB
Signal

Simulation result.

LIA signals detected by hydrophone

24
 4.5. High-efficient photoacoustic generation with an ultrathin
metallic multilayer broadband absorber /Passive relay
• PA conversion can generate broadband ultrasonic signals with a high frequency of several hundred
megahertz when PA materials are excited by optical pulses.
• The ultrasonic signals with high intensity are desired. Currently, PA conversion is achieved through the
thermoelastic scheme, in which the PA signal amplitude is proportional to the volumetric thermal-
expansion coefficient (β), light absorption (A), and incident laser fluence (F) [9]
• This paper presents combined lossy materials with high optical absorption and elastic materials with high
thermal expansion to improve the PA signal amplitude.
• Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a polymer usually used as a thermal expansion material for enhancing PA
signal due to its high optical transmittance and high thermal expansion coefficient.
• Embedding light-absorbing materials in PDMS can significantly increase the thermal expansion
coefficient of PA composites without influencing absorption.

Author by
1. State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering,Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027,
China
2. CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh 160030, India
3.TIFAC-CORE in Fiber Optics and Optical Communication, Applied Physics Department, Delhi Technological University, Bawana Road, Delhi-
25
110042, India
• Common light absorbing materials include carbon black [10], reduced graphene oxide
[11], carbon nanotubes (CNT) [12], and candle soot nanoparticles [13].
• Recently, researches have demonstrated that metal nanomaterials can be used in the
enhancement of PA signal, such as gold nanoparticles in different shapes, and silver
nanostructures. However, metal nanostructure-based PA composites can usually only
achieve single-wavelength optical absorption and only can be excited by a laser source of
a particular wavelength.
• In PA communications for civil applications with illuminating light sources, broadband
optical absorption with efficient PA generation is required. Consequently, a broadband
absorptive, stable, and polymer-compatible PA material with low-cost and easy
fabrications is desired to facilitate the applications of a PA conversion system.
• This work was a kind of lithography-free fabrication of an efficient PA conversion
material based on a three-layer ultrathin film containing a thin PDMS layer sandwiched
between two ultrathin chromium films. This three-layer structure can achieve high
broadband absorption through
the visible light range, and it can be excited by both laser
with different central wavelengths and broadband
white light source.
• The fabrication process suggested to be simple.

26
 Results & conclusion

• Carbon black Reduced graphene oxide , Carbon nanotubes (CNT) ,

and Candle soot nanoparticles good light absorbing materials

• Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a polymer used as thermal expansion

material for enhancing PA signal.
• PDMS layer sandwiched between two ultrathin chromium films is an
efficient PA absorbing (visible Light) which is also law cost material.

27
 4.6 Plane photoacoustic wave generation in liquid water by THz-FEL
• The THz light is completely absorbed close to the surface of water with
a penetration depth of 10 μm, it does not induce any ionization,
dissociation or structural damage in molecules.
• The strong absorption induces a rapid and local pressure increase
followed by effective photoacoustic wave generation without requiring
any absorber.
• The strong absorption also achieves plane photoacoustic wave.
• because of strong absorption via a stretching vibration mode of the
hydrogen bonding network.it is non invasive and insignificantly
harmful.
• In this experiment the THz-FEL at a repetition rate of 5 Hz with the
highest pulse energy of 50 mJ Laser, pulse width 39.5ns, center
frequency 3-7THz, Prpposed for industrial & imaging.

2020 IEEE
practical setup
 Results & conclusion
A shadowgraph image of a water sample
irradiated by the THz-FEL with a macropulse
energy of 2.6 mJ at the center frequency of 4
THz. T
his energy corresponds to an average micropulse
energy of 18 μJ, that is, a radiant exposure of 4.6
mJ/cm2 with a beam diameter of 0.7 mm at the
water surface.
A stripe pattern is clearly seen in the image. Each Fig. above .
horizontal line corresponds to a pulse front of a (a) Snapshot image of a train of
photoacoustic wave induced by the THz pulse photoacoustic waves induced by the THz-
train shown in Fig. left. The large absorption FEL with a frequency of 4 THz and an
coefficient of the THz light means that the average micropulse energy of 18 μJ.
penetration depth in water is considerably
shorter than 1 mm. Therefore, the THz light can (b) Wave amplitude as a function of depth
directly affect molecules or biological tissues measured with scanning the time gate of
only within a submillimeter range. the CCD camera. The amplitude is obtained
THz-light induced photoacoustic waves will from the horizontal sum of the pixel
potentially be able to probe and control intensities in each vertical pixel of the
INDUSTRIAL and biological structures beyond the image.
penetration dept., underwater communication The arrow shows the propagation of the 29
 4.7 Optimizing Acoustic Signal Quality for Linear Optoacoustic
Communication
• This paper reports a study of the effect of the laser
beam incident angle and observation angle on the
spectral response of the generated acoustic signal
using linear optoacoustic methods. The study has
provided guidelines on optimum positioning of
airborne and underwater nodes for which we can
generate the best quality acoustic signal.
• The best quality implies an acoustic signal that has the
highest spectral response at the lower frequency
components
• Concider: refracted angle,𝜃𝑟, and vertical observation
.The figures indicate that
angle, 𝜃, increasing f boosts the
value of D until a certain
level after which D starts
to decline

Md Shafiqul Islam Et al. 2022, IEEE Xplore.

University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 30
 4.8. Practical field Experience

• Most of the works have been done in the lab environment but NRL
has successfully done open water demonstration of laser acoustic
generation and propagation in 2010 and 2011 at the Lake Glendora
Test Facility of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division , USA.
• The generated acoustic signal was about 190 dB, and boat-mounted
hydrophones measured acoustic pulse propagation at distances up
to 140m (approximately 500 ft).
• These field experiments confirmed that there is no significant
ultrasonic attenuation at these ranges during acoustic propagation.
[38]

31
 4.9 Lit. Gaps & Challenges

Gaps identified Challenges

1. Passive relay or the light absorbing materials
2. The effect of environment consideration
such as Temperature, salinity, turbulence,
water density, pressure , water wave,
currents & state of water solid/ ice
considerations
3. Efficient Photoacoustic excitation sources/
alternative such as THz Laser source.
4. Two way/ Bidirectional Photoacoustic Air-
underwater communication alternatives.
5. Modulation/demodulation schemes for
photoacoustic air/water Underwater
communications.
6. Optimizing signal quality with respect to
Different parameters like spot size, sensor
type, and positions
7. Air-underwater interface Channel modelling
& analysis still becoming complex and
unsolved. , (Ground interface, underwater)
8. Open for New research area & Practical
demonstration at infantry stage .
• The photoacoustic effect is hybrid by nature
This hybrid nature makes it very difficult to
come up with a suitable sourxe
,modulation/demodulation or
encoding/decoding scheme
• Corss media boundary .
• Focusing laser light inside the water medium is
extremely difficult in practice. In lab setups,
one can do so by using focusing lenses.
However, such an approach is not practical in
an open ocean environment. Auto-focusing
laser light could be a viable option that is
worth investigation.
• The channel characteristics of the interface is a
complex modelling is difficult full of waves,
turbulence and ocean currents. .

32
 5 Practical work done

1. we demonstrate laboratory setup for generation of photoacoustic

signal with available lab facility and commercially available items
such as microphone.
2. We have also demonstrated practical field experiment for
feasibility study.
3. We have produced a device from locally available materials which
converts laser light source in to acoustic source

33
Lab setup for photoacoustic Signal Generation

•
Practical setup @ workbench

34
 Material Description
• Nd: YAG laser 500mJ tuneable, Pulse width of 4-6nn, repetition rate
of 20Hz
• Microphone
Signal Type: Analog signal

• VCC: 3.3 V/5 V

• Directivity: All-round

• Sensitivity: -42 dB
Carbon sheet
• S/N Ratio: 59 dBA
Graphite sheet
• Dimension: 18×12.5 mm/ 0.71×0.49”

Mirror : high reflectivity

Lens : not included in this
report
35
 Result & Discussion

Fig left shows

Photoacoustic signal
detected by microphone
& observed in
Oscilloscope

• The first signal is trigger signal & the second waveform shows the acoustic signal generated by
the Photoacoustic effect..

• The signal is from the Underwater MEMS sensor; a similar waveform can also be obtained for
reflected acoustic waves.

• We have measured this signal with different parameters and plotted accordingly . 36
 Underwater Photoacoustic Signal
vs
Reflected Signal

we compare the intensity of generated signal between both sensors where the first sensor
is located at 4 cm depth underwater while the other is located near the surface of the
water. 37
Using passive relay

• Comparison between two different depths;

one is located 4 cm under the water surface,
and another one is located at a depth of
34cm under the water; as we increase the
laser power, both sensor shows an increase
in acoustic signal intensity while the
relative difference between the intensities
remains nearly constant.

• With increasing depth, acoustic signal

intensity fades away.

38
 different light absorbing materials
kept on the water surface and how
they affect the intensity of generated
photoacoustic signals.
We experimented with two different
materials one is a very thin layer of
carbon, and the other is a relatively
thicker graphite sheet.
All better quality than plain water.

39
 We used Nd:YAG Laser,1J, 20Hz, 6-8nm
We demonstrated successfully from 8m
Field demonstration distance .

40
 Acoustic source device

• We have produced Acoustic source device from locally available

materials which changes IR Laser radiation source in to Acoustic
wave.
• Measurement
• Reference: 65dB
• measurand : 85dB

41
 Conclusion

• We have successively Generated Linear photoacoustic signal in our

existing lab facilities , without focusing lens.
• We have learned a lot of challenges & experiences which pushes us
for further best results, It is encouraging , including the field setup..
• The experiment is still in progress & it will be continuing until the best
results.

42
 Other relevant works done

• laboratory hand on practice, Day to day lab activates , setting up

different experiments.
• Training on FT-IR spectroscopy including familiarization, operation,
usage
• Maintenance and recovery works On research & teaching facilities
repair and maintenance of Nd:YAG lasers
• Attending relevant workshops , seminars, lectures

43
 6.Action Plan ( Proposal)
Duration:- 4-5 years
S,no Major Activities Detail activities Period No.Ye Remarks
ar

1 Coursework 1
21/SemI
2 Formulating a problem/topic
Comprehensive viva
22/ Semester ii
Detail
3 Intensive literature survey
22/ Semester 1 semester Plan to
be prepared.
4 Develop hypothesis
22/ semester1
5 Design research work 2
22/ semester 1
6 Simulation & design Development
23/semester 2
7 Collection of Data 3
23 /semester1
8 Execution of Project
23/seester 1
9 Analysis and hypothesis testing Detail
24/Semeseter 2 semester Plan to
be prepared

10 Interpretation & conclusion 4

24/smester1
11 Report preparation and presentations
25/Semester2
44
 Acknowledgement

• My Supervisor Dr. Dhirhe Sir, Associate prof.

• All Laser & Photonics Group Members, Hod APP.

• References
In appendix

45