Study of the laser-driven spallation process by the velocity interferometer system for any reflector interferometry technique. I. Laser-shock characterization

This article presents the technique for measuring an amplitude and a profile of a laser-generated stress pulse using a Doppler velocity interferometer velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR). The compressive stress, produced by a laser pulse, moves target’s rear free surface. The velocity of this displacement recorded by VISAR can then be related to the laser-driven load applied at the front face of the sample. In the first part of our study, the effect of the laser power density on the shape of the pressure pulse was experimentally and numerically studied for aluminum samples. Subsequently, this method was applied to other materials (copper, molybdenum, and tantalum) in order to find an influence of the material kind on the amplitude and the shape of the loading profile.