scanning acoustic microscope

A scanning acoustic microscope is an instrument that uses sound waves to create a magnified image of a small object. The concept of using ultrasound in a microscope was proposed in the early 1940s, but the necessary technology to generate the required high-frequency sound waves was not available until later. By the 1970s, researchers developed systems that led to the scanning acoustic microscope.

This instrument uses transducers to produce frequencies between 5 and 150 MHz. These sound waves are then diffracted by the sample's structures. A computer analyzes the resulting waveform to generate an image of the object's internal features. This technique allows for the nondestructive inspection of various materials, including integrated circuit packages, and is also finding emerging applications in biology and sports medicine.12