Measurement of shock waves generated by a trapezoidal laser pulse

Abstract
Rear-surface luminosity measurements of shock waves generated by trapezoidal laser pulses were made using a streak camera. A new phenomenon of a luminous ring structure surrounding the central focal spot region was observed. Examination of the luminosity's structure within and around the shock heated region appears to indicate unloading of the rear free surface into vacuum and significant obscuration of the high density, shock heated target.