Sphere-Wall Impact Experiments with Piezoelectric Force Sensors.

Measurement of impulse imparted to a target from μs-timescale laser ablation events is often performed with piezoelectric force sensors. For pulsed laser ablation with a target resting on the force sensors, an effect can occur for a vertical thrust stand in an exhaust-up configuration that results in measurement of about twice the actual imparted impulse. A CO₂ laser operating at 10.6 μm wavelength, 300 ns pulse length, and up to 20 J pulse energy single shots was used to ablate samples of PCTFE. Force sensor measurements of the imparted impulse were compared to tests with a ballistic pendulum over a variety of fluences. The theoretical impulse delivered by the impacts of 6 mm diameter spheres of aluminum, steel, POM, and PTFE on the force sensor were studied, and the coefficients of restitution were measured for the targets. Practical issues for measurement of ablation-imparted impulse with piezoelectric sensors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]