Transient experiment using a multiple-pulse laser light source
Abstract
We applied a technique of passively Q switching a ruby laser to photograph transient development of an unsteady, underexpanded jet. In this technique, a bleachable absorber was used to generate multiple laser pulses which backlighted a Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer used to observe the jet flow; instantaneous images of the laser-illuminated event were swept onto a fixed film drum by a mirror rotating at ∼75 000 rpm for a film writing speed of ∼16 mm/μs. Our success ratio, which was good, was achieved despite the fact that control of pulse separation, number of pulses, duration of lasing action, and pulse-to-pulse intensity were not precise. We had more success with the passive technique than we did with an electronic, high-voltage technique—described in the paper—for multiple Q switching of a Pockels cell.
- Publication:
-
Review of Scientific Instruments
- Pub Date:
- October 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.1134880
- Bibcode:
- 1977RScI...48.1256O
- Keywords:
-
- Flow Visualization;
- Jet Flow;
- Laser Applications;
- Pulsed Lasers;
- Q Switched Lasers;
- Transient Response;
- Flow Measurement;
- Gas Expansion;
- Ruby Lasers;
- Unsteady Flow;
- Instrumentation and Photography;
- 07.68.+m;
- 42.60.-v;
- 47.40.Nm;
- Photography photographic instruments;
- xerography;
- Laser optical systems: design and operation;
- Shock wave interactions and shock effects