This is the second volume of Advances in Acoustic Microscopy. Such applications can be thought of as bridging the gap be­ tween acoustic microscopy at low gigahertz frequencies, and on the one hand nondestructive testing of materials at low megahertz frequencies and on the other hand medical ultrasonic imaging at low megahertz frequencies.

1. Characterization of Electronic Components by Acoustic Microscopy.- 1.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Commonly Used Ultrasonic Microscope Equipment.- 1.3. Failure Mechanisms Induced by Assembly-Related Problems.- 1.4. Advantages and Limitations of Acoustic Microscopy in the Semiconductor Industry.- 1.5. Ultrasonic Microscope Applications in the Production, Qualification, and Failure Analysis of Semiconductor Devices.- 1.6. Conclusions.- References.- 2. Principles and Applications of High-Frequency Medical Imaging.- 2.1. Introduction.- 2.2. Historical Perspective of Echographic Concepts.- 2.3. High-Frequency Medical Ultrasonic Systems.- 2.4. Scanning Modes and Scanning Electronics.- 2.5. Ultrasonic High-Frequency Imaging Transducers.- 2.6. Dermatological Applications.- 2.7. Ophthalmological Applications.- 2.8. Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging.- 2.9. Conclusion.- References.- 3. Interaction of Acoustic Waves with Solid Surfaces.- 3.1. Introduction.- 3.2. Acoustic Reflection Coefficient at a Liquid/Solid Interface.- 3.3. Layered Materials and Guided Waves.- 3.4. Method and Apparatus of Measurement.- 3.5. Applications to Materials Characterization.- 3.6. Conclusion.- References.- Appendixes.- 4. Scanning Ultrasonic Microscopy with Phase Contrast.- 4.1. The Phase-Sensitive Acoustic Microscope.- 4.2. Topographical Measurements.- 4.3. Lens Characterization.- 4.4. Determination of the Elastic Properties of Small Samples.- 4.5. Determination of Elastic Constants of Single Crystals.- References.- 5. Ultrasonic Focusing with Time Reversal Mirrors.- 5.1. Introduction.- 5.2. Principles of Time Reversal Acoustics.- 5.3. Applications of Time Reversal Mirrors.- 5.4. The DORT Method (Décomposition de l’Opérateur de Retournement Temporel).- 5.5. Conclusion.- References.

`An outstanding work.' The Journal of Scanning Microscopies, January 1998 `Very well written and illustrated...the subjects selected are of major importance and...the editors (and the authors) have perfomed an outstanding work in presenting in the same volume both fundamental studies and medical or industrial applications.' Scanning, 1998