Shock physics and shadowgraphic measurements of laser-produced cerium plasmas

Shadowgraphic measurements are combined with theory on gas-dynamics to in-vestigate the shock physics associated with nanosecond laser ablation of cerium metal targets. Time-resolved shadowgraphic imaging is performed to measure the propagation and attenuation of the laser-induced shockwave through air and argon atmospheres at various background pressures, where stronger shockwaves characterized by higher propagation velocities are observed for higher ablation laser irradiances and lower pressures. The Rankine-Hugoniot relations are also employed to estimate the pressure, temperature, density, and flow velocity of the shock-heated gas located immediately behind the shock front, predicting larger pressure ratios and higher temperatures for stronger laser-induced shockwaves.

Automated summary

Shadowgraphic measurements combined with gas-dynamics theory were used to study the shock physics of nanosecond laser ablation of cerium metal targets. Time-resolved shadowgraphic imaging was performed to measure the propagation and attenuation of the laser-induced shockwave in different background pressures, revealing that higher ablation laser irradiances and lower pressures lead to stronger shockwaves with higher propagation velocities. The Rankine-Hugoniot relations were also employed to estimate the properties of the shock-heated gas, predicting larger pressure ratios and higher temperatures for stronger laser-induced shockwaves.