Double-Pulse Laser Interaction Experiments.
Abstract
A double-pulse CO2 laser system has been constructed which emits 15 joules in each of the two pulses with a controllable pulse separation which can be varied from simultaneous to several seconds. With this system, high-power laser effects at solid surfaces in air are investigated at atmospheric pressure. Ignition thresholds of laser-supported detonation waves using thin foil targets are investigated for single laser pulses. The energy released in a laser-supported detonation wave leads to an air blast wave in the space near the target after the laser power has decayed. As a consequence, the gas density is reduced to approximately 1% of its ambient value and leads to an observed enhanced coupling for a second laser pulse. In the limit of perfect coupling, calculations are made of the expected temporal variation of surface temperature. Various experimental measurements are made of the high-temperature region near the target surface. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0784868
Entities
People
- Deborah J. Nelson
- R. B. Hall
- W. E. Maher
Organizations
- Boeing