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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Optical pin apparatus for measuring the arrival time and velocity of shock waves and particles

Patent ·
OSTI ID:866177
 [1]
  1. 315 Rover Blvd., Los Alamos, NM 87544

An apparatus for the detection of the arrival and for the determination of the velocity of disturbances such as shock-wave fronts and/or projectiles. Optical pins using fluid-filled microballoons as the light source and an optical fiber as a link to a photodetector have been used to investigate shock-waves and projectiles. A microballoon filled with a noble gas is affixed to one end of a fiber-optic cable, and the other end of the cable is attached to a high-speed streak camera. As the shock-front or projectile compresses the microballoon, the gas inside is heated and compressed producing a bright flash of light. The flash of light is transmitted via the optic cable to the streak camera where it is recorded. One image-converter streak camera is capable of recording information from more than 100 microballoon-cable combinations simultaneously.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
Benjamin, Robert F. (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Number(s):
US 4649528
OSTI ID:
866177
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English