Laser-generated thermoelastic acoustic sources in anisotropic materials

Abstract

An analytical model appropriate for thermoelastic generation of acoustic waves in anisotropic materials is presented for both plane and line sources. The interaction of acoustic waves produced by subsurface sources with the bounding surface is accounted for using a method of images. For the plane source case, analytical solutions are found that form an appropriate basis for an angular spectrum of plane waves. For the line source case and for specific crystal symmetries and source orientations, it is shown in the limit of strong optical absorption, a buried line source is equivalent to applying a shear stress dipole at the bounding surface. However, contrary to the isotropic case, the character and strength of the equivalent surface stress is a function of propagation direction.