In search of a noncontact underwater acoustic source

The history of studies of the photoacoustic effect in liquids and its applications to the development of a “virtual” source of underwater acoustic signals is briefly reviewed. The problem of the efficiency of the photoacoustic conversion is considered. The modes of laser generation of sound, i.e., the thermooptical, nonlinear surface, and nonlinear bulk modes of operation, are discussed taking into account the real features of the marine environment, the most important of them being the surface waves. A review of the publications concerned with the problem of a moving photoacoustic source is presented. Advances in the photoacoustic underwater remote sensing technology are described.