Development of a high-performance cymbal vector hydrophone

Detecting the direction of sound wave propagation using conventional acoustic hydrophones can be challenging, as they are omnidirectional and only measure the magnitude of sound pressure. However, vector hydrophones offer a solution to this problem, which enables the determination of both magnitude and direction of sound waves. In this study, we propose a novel structure for a vector hydrophone that consists of two cymbal transducers attached to a hollow cylindrical frame, positioned facing each other. Initially, we analyze the received voltage sensitivity of the two cymbal transducers and evaluate the suitability of the structure as a vector hydrophone by implementing a dipole mode beam pattern. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of structural parameters on the performance of the vector hydrophone. Based on these findings, we derive the optimal structure for the vector hydrophone, maximizing its sensitivity. Finally, we validate the design by manufacturing a prototype of the cymbal vector hydrophones and comparing their measured performance with the calculated values.