Laser generation of acoustic waves in liquids and gases

The laser generation of sound in liquids and gases is reviewed. The sound-generating mechanisms of laser interaction with matter are discussed with emphasis on the thermoelastic process. The studies on strongly absorbing liquids include detailed theoretical considerations of the thermoelastic sound generation with pulsed lasers. Acoustic waveforms for H2O and D2O are calculated analytically on the basis of a model laser-pulse shape. Both free and rigid boundaries on the surface of the liquid are considered. Good agreement between theory and experiments with respect to waveforms and amplitudes is obtained. The experiments are performed with a hybrid CO2 laser and piezoelectric or optical detection of the acoustic transients. In view of a present controversy, special emphasis is put on the temperature dependence of the acoustic amplitudes in H2O, D2O, and in aqueous MgSO4 solutions. Good agreement is found between experimental data and a new, pure thermal model which takes heat conduction into account. The distortion of the acoustic waveform during the propagation through the liquid is treated in terms of sound absorption, diffraction, and nonlinear acoustics. A simple experimental method for the determination of Beyer’s nonlinearity parameter B/A is presented. In the last section some characteristics of photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) in gaseous media are reviewed. This method has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive. The measurement of absorption coefficients as low as 10−8 cm−1 is possible. PA studies on H2O vapor are discussed with new results on line and continuum absorption in the 9–11-μm wavelength range. Finally, the impact of PAS on trace gas analysis is demonstrated. With PAS the detection of gas concentrations in the ppb range is feasible. The operational characteristics of a stationary CO laser and a mobile CO2 laser-PAS system are presented, including first results on continuous in situ air pollution monitoring.