High power drives for thermoacoustic refrigerators are being investigated by several groups. Theoretical calculations have been performed of the feasibility of parametrically driving a longitudinal resonance tube by uniformly modulating the temperature of the gas with a high‐power laser. Parametric drives are promising since the drive mechanism is distributed over the entire volume of gas and because the response may become large before saturation occurs. Although it is demonstrated that laser drive is not a practical means of high‐power drive for longitudinal resonators, much interesting physics has been considered in the analysis of the proposed system and is discussed.