title: Measurement of shock wave rise times in metal thin films.
abstract: We have measured the rise time of laser-generated shock waves in vapor plated metal thin films using frequency-domain interferometry with subpicosecond time resolution. 10%- 90% rise times of <6.25 ps were found in targets ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 microm in thickness. Particle and average shock velocities were simultaneously determined. Shock velocities of approximately 5 nm/ps were inferred from the measured free surface velocity, corresponding to pressures of 30-50 kbar. Thus, the shock front extends only a few tens of lattice spacings.
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Gahagan
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rabie
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Buelow
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nicholson