Abstract
The photoacoustic effect is usually studied in an isotropic medium on a laboratory scale. However, it is possible to use optical sources to launch pressure perturbations in the atmosphere consisting of both acoustic and gravity waves. Here, photoacoustic theory is extended to incorporate the effects of a stratified atmosphere and a gravitational field on launching and propagation of pressure waves in the atmosphere. Properties of pressure waves corresponding to several optical excitation schemes are investigated. The acoustic component of the optically launched pressure waves is explored separately to delineate its properties from those found without the effects of a gravitational field.
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