High-Power Laser Radiation-Induced Shock Waves in Solids

When a solid material is irradiated using high-power laser radiation, a fraction of the incident radiation is dissipated in the form of a shock wave in the sample. This article gives an account of shock measurements carried out using various pressure gauges on aluminium alloy and graphite samples irradiated using a CO2 pulsed laser. These results are then used for comparison with a theoretical model.