title: Measurement of optical coupling coefficients based on thermal expansion.
abstract: A fundamentally new method for measuring optical coupling coefficients is described. A sample of a particular shape is subjected to a fixed tensile load and heated with pulsed optical radiation. The resulting peak tensile relaxation is proportional to the total absorbed energy; evolution of the coupling coefficient may thus be observed. A prototype system was constructed, and coupling coefficients were measured as a function of incident energy for CO(2) laser pulses on bare and painted aluminum surfaces. With a sample of known absorptance and thermal properties, the system functions as a sensitive, fast-response, absolute-energy-measurement device.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Seitel
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Porteus
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Faith