Theory of photothermal effects in thermally inhomogeneous solids with constant effusivity

The analysis of the thermal wave generation and propagation in thermally in homogeneous solid with constant effusivity is presented. The developed theo ry is based on an exact solution of an inhomogeneous heat conduction equati on with linear symmetry, taking into account internal heat sources of an ar bitrary space distribution and time dependence. Generalized expressions for the complex temperature distribution and surface temperature variations ar e also presented. Two special cases that are particularly relevant for phot othermal techniques are also discussed.