Nonlinear propagation of laser-generated sound pulses in a water and granular medium.

Nonlinear propagation of finite-amplitude acoustic pulse in water and through a sample of water-saturated granular medium is considered. To generate high-intensity acoustic pulses laser generation of sound was used. The region of fluid perturbed by the laser acts as a volume-distributed source. In a fluid with weak light attenuation, a cylindrical source could be formed by a narrow laser beam. The nonlinear distortion of the cylindrical finite-amplitude wave in water is investigated. The measured rate of distortion corresponds to that calculated in the approximation of nonlinear acoustics. In a strongly light-absorbing medium, a wide (compared to the typical sound wavelength) laser beam produces a circular planar source. Such a source produces acoustical pulses of amplitude up to 3 MPa and duration about 1 μs in different fluids. This source was used to investigate the propagation of high-intensity wide frequency band sound signals in a sample of water-saturated cobalt-manganese crust (CMC). Specific acoustical features of the crust such as nonlinear sound pulse distortion and the frequency dependance of attenuation, varying with the amplitude, are considered. Theoretical interpretation of the results is given. © 1999 Acoustical Society of America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]