Direct and real-time sub-wavelength resolution photoacoustic imaging method based on acoustic lens with negative refractive index

The signal processing technology based on material with negative refractive index provides researchers with the latest ideas. As a new nondestructive bio-photonic technology, photoacoustic tomography is a kind of imaging method based on the differences of optical absorption within the biological organization However, photoacoustic tomography by the scanning sensor or by the sensors array at present has its inherent disadvantages that may lead to poor real-time performance and high cost in the imaging process. The characteristics of acoustic lens with negative refractive index such as focusing, filtering and directional control on acoustic wave, are very suitable for solving the problem in photoacoustic tomography. With an analysis on the nega-tive quality response of acoustic lens and the advantages of negative refractive imaging, we proposed an approach using the lens to change the current photoacoustic imaging methods. The experiment showed that the imaging effectiveness of photoacoustic tomography by the designed lens is very impressive that the pressure distribution of the absorber is basically consistent with the image of the absorber. In addition, the result of 0. 6 times wavelength in the experimental image is demonstrated on sub-wave-length photoacoustic imaging through the lens designed in this work.