Picosecond time-resolved electronic spectroscopy in plate impact shock experiments: Experimental development

An experimental method was developed to perform picosecond time-resolved el ectronic spectroscopy in single-event, plate impact, shock wave experiments . Several experimental difficulties had to be addressed due to the fast tim e resolution (100 ps) and short time duration (12.7 ns) of such experiments . Procedures are described to address the following experimental issues: (i ) synchronization of the light source, detection equipment, and the shock e vent within the experimental duration, (ii) incorporation of a Nd: YAG lase r (operative in a repetitive mode) into the experimental configuration, and (iii) sources of temporal dispersion. Representative results are shown fro m experiments performed on single crystal CdS. The developments described h ere are also expected to be useful for shock wave experiments involving Ram an, fluorescence, or other types of spectroscopy which require the use of a laser. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)01003-5].