Converging surface acoustic waves have been generated and detected u s i n g a noncontacting technique. A YAG l a s e r together w i t h an axicon lens produces a focussed o p t i c a l r i n g which e x c i t e s both converging and d i v e r g i n g SAW on t h e t e s t sample. An o p t i c a l i n t e r f e r o m e t e r i s used t o measure t h e v e r t i c a l displacement o f t h e SAW. V a r i a t i o n s i n t h e surface acoustic waveforms due