Production and detection theory of pulsed photoacoustic wave with maximum amplitude and minimum distortion in absorbing liquid

Abstract

The photoacoustic effect produced by laser-induced stress waves in liquids has found a variety of scientific and practical applications in industry, medicine, and environmental protection. The photoacoustic technique has the natural advantage of being less sensitive to scattering than traditional optical tools, thus offering increased accuracy and sensitivity. This paper aims to give a systematic outline of photoacoustic techniques, starting with the production and extending to the propagation and detection of photoacoustic waves. The focal point is the production of acoustic waves with maximum amplitude and minimum distortion. Maximum amplitude plays an essential role in photoacoustic spectroscopy and minimum distortion is the key to the determination of optical distribution and imaging in turbid media.