Exploratory laser-driven shock wave studies

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5313279· OSTI ID:5313279

Solem, J C; Veeser, L R

We show the results of a feasibility study for investigating shock structure and for measuring equation-of-state parameters using high-energy, short-pulse lasers. We discuss the temporal and spatial structure of the luminosity from laser-driven shock unloading in aluminum foils. We demonstrate that shock velocity can be measured by observing the time interval between shock emergence across two thicknesses and show data for shocks of 1.3 and 2.1 Mbar. The fact that we observe shock fronts cleanly breaking through steps as small as 3 ..mu..m indicates that the shock front thickness is very small in the few megabar region; this is the first experimental verification that these fronts are not more than a few micrometers thick. We present approximate measurements of free-surface velocity. Finally, we speculate on the use of these techniques to obtain detailed equation-of-state data.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5313279
• Report Number(s): LA-6997-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
656000 -- Condensed Matter Physics
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALUMINIUM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF STATE
FOILS
LASER RADIATION
METALS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RADIATIONS
SHOCK WAVES
WAVE PROPAGATION