A backing absorber (15, 25, 35, 45) for use with an ultrasonic transducer, comprising: a first elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) having at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) and at least one adhesive layer (12, 22), and a second elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) having at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) and at least one adhesive layer (12, 22), the second elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) bonded to said first elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46), wherein (a) said at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) of said second multilayer (10, 20, 46) is bonded to said at least one adhesive layer (12, 22) of said first multilayer (10, 20, 46) or (b) said at least one adhesive layer (12, 22) of said second multilayer (10, 20, 46) is bonded to said at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) of said first multilayer (10, 20, 46) and wherein a planar surface of one of the layers of the first elemental multilayer (10, 20) of said backing absorber (15, 25, 35, 45) is adapted to be coupled to a corresponding planar surface of a vibrating layer (31, 41) of said ultrasonic transducer (30, 40), characterized in that the backing absorber (15, 25, 35, 45) further comprises at least a third elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) having at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) and at least one adhesive layer (12, 22), wherein each elemental multilayer (20, 46) further includes a polymer layer (22, 47), wherein each of said at least one metal layer (21, 48) is deposited on a corresponding one of said polymer layers (22, 47) to form a periodic grating of metal strips wherein the direction or period of the grating is different for each elemental layer (20, 46). a first elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) having at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) and at least one adhesive layer (12, 22), and a second elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) having at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) and at least one adhesive layer (12, 22), the second elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) bonded to said first elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46), wherein (a) said at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) of said second multilayer (10, 20, 46) is bonded to said at least one adhesive layer (12, 22) of said first multilayer (10, 20, 46) or (b) said at least one adhesive layer (12, 22) of said second multilayer (10, 20, 46) is bonded to said at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) of said first multilayer (10, 20, 46) and wherein a planar surface of one of the layers of the first elemental multilayer (10, 20) of said backing absorber (15, 25, 35, 45) is adapted to be coupled to a corresponding planar surface of a vibrating layer (31, 41) of said ultrasonic transducer (30, 40), characterized in that the backing absorber (15, 25, 35, 45) further comprises at least a third elemental multilayer (10, 20, 46) having at least one metal layer (11, 21, 48) and at least one adhesive layer (12, 22), wherein each elemental multilayer (20, 46) further includes a polymer layer (22, 47), wherein each of said at least one metal layer (21, 48) is deposited on a corresponding one of said polymer layers (22, 47) to form a periodic grating of metal strips wherein the direction or period of the grating is different for each elemental layer (20, 46).