Dynamics of shocks in laser-launched flyer plates probed by photon Doppler velocimetry

Abstract

We investigated the launch and impact with glass targets for four different thicknesses of Al laser-launched flyer plates by monitoring the flight with photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV). The amplitudes and damping times of the reverberating shocks in the flyers, created by short laser pulse launching, were investigated as a function of pulse duration using 10 or 20 ns laser pulses. The shorter pulse duration showed a surprisingly more efficient damping process in the thicker flyers. The durations of the supported shocks in the glass targets were also measured as a function of flyer thickness. The supported shock durations were significantly shorter than the common picture of shock round-trip transit time in the flyer. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.