Listening to Ultrasound with a Laser

Ultrasound is widely used in applications ranging from non‐destructive testing of materials to medical imaging or even surgical interventions. As diverse as these applications may seem, they have a common interest: a precise measurement of the ultrasonic signals. Exact quantification is necessary to ensure proper performance of equipment as well as, sometimes, human safety. A new highly sensitive and broadband ultrasound detector is presented to fulfill the diverging demands of various ultrasound applications. In contrast to conventional sensors, it listens to ultrasound with a laser.