Role of temperature nonlinearity in thermal generation of acoustic pulses by laser radiation

An investigation was made of the temperature nonlinearity associated with the temperature dependence of the volume expansion coefficient of water and of the influence of this nonlinearity on the thermal generation of sound by laser radiation. The measurements were carried out by an interferometric method. The dependence of the amplitude of the acoustic pressure on the intensity of the absorbed adiation was determined. Typical interferograms of acoustic pulses were recorded.