Using plane pulsed acoustic waves in devices with phased gratings for ultrasonic imaging in layered media

A new method of constructing ultrasonic images in layered media is proposed that is based on the radiation and reception of plane pulsed waves at various angles. Upon passage via a set of layers, plane pulsed waves do not change their shape and direction in the imaged region, which eliminates the need for detailed analysis of wave propagation in intermediate layers. It is shown that, in the absence of a priori information on the thicknesses and acoustical parameters of layers or the results of their measurement, the proposed method allows images to be obtained at a spatial resolution corresponding to the theoretical limit.