EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATIONS OF HYPERVELOCITY INTACT CAPTURE SPECTROSCOPY

The ability to capture hypervelocity projectiles intact opens a new te chnique available for hypervelocity research. A determination of the r eactions taking place between the projectile and the capture medium du ring the process of intact capture is extremely important to an unders tanding of the intact capture phenomenon, to improving the capture tec hnique, and to developing a theory describing the phenomenon. The inta ct capture of hypervelocity projectiles by underdense media generates spectra, characteristic of the material species of projectile and capt ure medium involved. Initial exploratory results into real-time charac terization of hypervelocity intact capture techniques by spectroscopy include ultra-violet and visible spectra obtained by use of reflecting gratings, transmitting gratings, and prisms, and recorded by photogra phic and electronic means. Spectrometry proved to be a valuable real-t ime diagnostic tool for hypervelocity intact capture events, offering understanding of the interactions of the projectile and the capture me dium during the initial period and providing information not obtainabl e by other characterizations. Preliminary results and analyses of spec tra produced by the intact capture of hypervelocity aluminum spheres i n polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyurethane (PU) foams are presented. Included are tentative emission species identifications, a s well as gray body temperatures produced in the intact capture proces s.