New studies in optothermoacoustics
Askar'yan G. A., Yurkin A. V.
A directed propagation of sound along the wake of a light beam in a medium has been studied for the first time. The wake of the light beam, characterized by heating and bubbles, has a long lifetime. There are large abrupt changes in the acoustic properties of acoustic lines containing bubbles. Experiments have also been carried out on the optoacoustic detection and study of inhomogeneities in transparent and turbid media. Some possible applications are pointed out.