In some photoacoustic experiments, thermoelastic bendings of solid samples produce strong signals which cannot be analyzed by usual photoacoustic calculations. We propose a model that, using the thermoelastic equations, analytically explains the effect of this bending. It is found that the model agrees well with data obtained from an experiment sensitive to thermoelastic deformations only. Furthermore, the model is also consistent with previous piezoelectric-photoacoustic calculations. This experiment also leads to measurements of thermal diffusivities.

Radiative and non-radiative effects of a substrate on localized plasmon resonance of particles J. Appl. Phys. 112, 013529 (2012) Periodically focused modes in chains of dielectric spheres Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 061123 (2012) Photoreflectance study of the energy gap and spin-orbit splitting in InNAs alloys Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 151902 (2009) Second harmonic generation in random nonlinear dielectrics: Effective medium approximations and dilute limit expressions J. Appl. Phys. 105, 023102 (2009) A band-to-band Coulomb interaction model for refractive index spectra of ternary semiconductors Thermal diffusivities of metals can be accurately measured by the photoacoustic method. It is necessary, however, to use rear-surface illumination and to work at sufficiently high modulation frequency. Furthermore, to prevent mechanical vibrations of the sample due to its periodic dilatation ("drum effect"), this sample must be carefully fixed on the backing.

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Theoretical and experimental possibilities are presented of a modulated photothermal method, laser-induced photoreflectance, for inspecting thermal diffusivities and quality of interfaces in composite materials with micron-scale spatial resolutions. The models are established for semi-infinite materials containing interfaces parallel or perpendicular to the sample surface. The applications concern thermal diffusivity measurements of anisotropic polycrystals and detection of thermal resistance in damaged materials and at interfaces between reinforcements and matrix in composites.