Estimates of the intensity of sound generated during propagation of modulated laser beams in the atmosphere and influence of this sound on thermal defocusing of beams

The amplitude and shape of acoustic pulses, generated in the course of propagation of laser beams in the atmosphere, are calculated. The possibility of measuring these pulses is considered. An analysis is made of changes in the focusing properties of inhomogeneities of the refractive index which form in the atmosphere as a result of thermal interaction with a modulated laser beam. It is shown that self-focusing of a part of the beam is possible in the case of spatial and temporal modulation.