What characteristic does a higher quality factor indicate?

A higher quality factor is indicative of a narrow bandwidth. The quality factor, or Q factor, is a dimensionless parameter that describes how selective a transducer is at its resonant frequency. When a transducer has a high Q factor, it means that it resonates strongly at a specific frequency, resulting in a narrow range of frequencies around the resonant frequency that it can effectively produce or respond to.

This narrow bandwidth implies that the ultrasound transducer will be more efficient for applications that require precision at a particular frequency, enhancing image resolution for those specific applications. Conversely, a transducer with a low Q factor would exhibit a wider bandwidth, as it would be able to operate effectively over a broader range of frequencies.

Therefore, higher quality factors are associated with narrower bandwidths, leading to more focused frequency responses and improved imaging characteristics in certain contexts.