English

Noun

1. a transducer that converts underwater sound waves into electrical signals, rather like a microphone

A hydrophone (Greek "hydro" = "water" and "phone" = "sound") is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change. Such piezoelectric materials, or transducers can convert a sound signal into an electrical signal since sound is a pressure wave in fluids. Some transducers can also serve as a projector (emitter), but not all have this capability, and may be destroyed if used in such a manner.

A hydrophone can "listen" to sound in air, but will be less sensitive due to its design as having a good acoustic impedance match to water, the more dense fluid. Likewise, a microphone can be buried in the ground, or immersed in water if is put in a waterproof container, but will give similarly poor performance due to the similarly bad acoustic impedance match.

History

The hydrophone was used late in World War I. American convoys used them to detect German U-boats, greatly lessening the effectiveness of the submarine. Ernest Rutherford, in England, led pioneer research in hydrophones using piezoelectric devices. His only patent was for a hydrophone device.

Directional hydrophones

A small single cylindrical ceramic transducer can achieve near perfect omnidirectional reception. Directional hydrophones increase sensitivity from one direction using two basic techniques:

Focused Transducers

This device uses a single transducer element with a dish or conical-shaped sound reflector to focus the signals, in a similar manner to a reflecting telescope. This type of hydrophone can be produced from a low-cost omnidirectional type, but must be used while stationary, as the reflector impedes its movement through water.

Arrays

Multiple hydrophones can be arranged in an array so that it will add the signals from the desired direction while subtracting signals from other directions. The array may be steered using a beamformer. Most commonly, hydrophones are arranged in a "line array" but may be in two or three dimensional arrangements.

See also

• Communication with submarines
• underwater acoustics
• sonar

References

• Pike, John (1999). SOSUS Retrieved Jan. 28, 2005.
• Watlington, Frank (1979). How to build & use low-cost hydrophones. (ISBN 0830610790)
• Unknown. hydrophone Retrieved Jan. 28, 2005.
• Unknown. (2005) Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary: Term 'hydrophone' Retrieved Jan. 28, 2005.

Links

• DOSITS Hydrophone introduction at Discovery of Sound in the Sea
• [http://orcasound.net?07enohpordyhikiw10 orcasound.net ] Live hydrophone streams from killer whale habitat
• Passive Acoustic Monitoring Using hydrophones to monitor underwater sounds
• Build your own hydrophone (free instructions)
• Build your own hydrophone #2 Online tutorial at the freesound project.
• Hydrophone recordings at the freesound project.
• Precision Acoustics useful resource on hydrophones