Ultrasonic attenuation measurements at very high SNR: correlation, information theory and performance

Challis, R, Ivchenko, V and Al-Lashi, R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7775-8181, 2013. Ultrasonic attenuation measurements at very high SNR: correlation, information theory and performance. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 457: 012004. ISSN 1742-6588

Preview

Text PubSub10490_Al-Lashi.pdf - Published version Download (745kB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper describes a system for ultrasonic wave attenuation measurements which is based on pseudo-random binary codes as transmission signals combined with on-the-fly correlation for received signal detection. The apparatus can receive signals in the nanovolt range against a noise background in the order of hundreds of microvolts and an analogue to digital convertor (ADC) bit-step also in the order of hundreds of microvolts. Very high signal to noise ratios (SNRs) are achieved without recourse to coherent averaging with its associated requirement for high sampling times. The system works by a process of dithering – in which very low amplitude received signals enter the dynamic range of the ADC by 'riding' on electronic noise at the system input. The amplitude of this 'useful noise' has to be chosen with care for an optimised design. The process of optimisation is explained on the basis of classical information theory and is achieved through a simple noise model. The performance of the system is examined for different transmitted code lengths and gain settings in the receiver chain. Experimental results are shown to verify the expected operation when the system is applied to a very highly attenuating material – an aerated slurry.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Creators:	Challis, R., Ivchenko, V. and Al-Lashi, R.
Publisher:	Institute of Physics Publishing
Date:	2013
Volume:	457
ISSN:	1742-6588
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1088/1742-6596/457/1/012004 DOI
Rights:	Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	28 Mar 2018 15:34
Last Modified:	28 Mar 2018 15:34
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/33144

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Statistics

Views

Downloads