<p>Deep coal mining faces complex geological hazards, and channel waves serve as an important method for detecting internal structures within coal seams. Their formation depends not only on geology but also on the seismic source used. A dipole source—composed of two closely spaced point sources of equal strength but opposite polarity—excites S-waves more effectively, promoting channel wave development. However, its application in coal mining has not been previously reported. This study combines 3D numerical simulation and physical analysis to investigate dipole sources and implements their excitation using a CO₂ seismic source. Key findings include: (1) Wavefields generated by X-X, Y-Y, and Z-Z dipole sources in coal seams show significant directional differences, with amplitude variations in P-waves, S-waves, and channel waves revealed through mechanical analysis. (2) Coal seam interfaces affect wave propagation, clarifying how different dipole sources excite body waves and channel waves. (3) The Z-Z dipole produces the most continuous channel waves, with the Z-component being dominant—consistent with Rayleigh-type channel waves—making it optimal for their exploration. (4) Field tests using a CO₂ source confirmed that the Z-Z dipole records exhibit more developed channel waves than those from explosive or concentrated force sources. The channel wave continuity index (CI) for the Z-Z dipole excitation reached 0.93, a 29.2% increase over the CI of 0.72 for the concentrated force source, further verifying the effectiveness and practicality of the Z-Z dipole configuration.</p>