Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 November 2010
In this paper, we perform a sensitivity analysis for shape optimization problems arising in models we suggest for a lithotripter. More precisely, we use two models based on high intensity ultrasound focusing by an acoustic lens, where through changing the shape of the lens we try to achieve a favourable focusing. The models are based on acoustic wave equations with piecewise constant coefficients, a linear and a nonlinear one, where for the nonlinear one we use the Westervelt equation. The sensitivity analysis is performed using an adjoint approach.