Effect of the laser average power and pulse repetition rate on the spectrum and localization of intense sound produced by an pulsating optical discharge in the air

Abstract

Spectrum and localization of intense sound produced by pulsating optical discharge is studied. It was shown that the spectrum structure and localization of sound field depends on average power and pulse repetition rate of laser radiation. Intensity and structure of the sound spectrum determination depending on the distance to pulsating optical discharge is considered. Results are confirmed in experiments where the pulsating optical discharge was created using 2 kW average power CO2-laser (pulse repetition rate f ~ 50 kHz, pulse duration ~ 1 µs).