Measurement of shock waves using phase shifting pulsed holographic interferometer

Abstract

A phase shifting pulsed holographic interferometer was applied to the experimental study of the propagation of laser-induced shock waves over metal plates. A double-pulsed ruby laser was used to generate the shock waves and to make a holographic interferogram of the wave fields. The phase shifting method with a dual-reference beam solved the sign ambiguity problem in holographic fringe patterns and allowed a quantitative evaluation of the phase of the interference patterns. The transient surface profile and propagation behavior of the shock wave over plates were investigated from the holographic fringe patterns.