LASER‐DRIVEN FLYER PLATES FOR REACTIVE MATERIALS RESEARCH

A laser‐driven flyer plate apparatus is described for ultrafast spectroscopy of reactive nanomaterial dynamics, that is compatible with fast spectroscopy methods we have already developed. The apparatus uses a standard Nd:YAG laser with aspheric beam shaping optics to produce a flat‐top beam, and a vapor‐deposited flyer plate array. New diagnostics to measure the flyer plate velocity and its impact with an optical window include a simple method of measuring the steady velocity with a photomultiplier tube, a nanosecond microscope and a fiber displacement interferometer.