Imaging Ejecta and Debris Cloud Behavior Using Laser Side-lighting☆

Abstract The Caltech Small Particle Hypervelocity Impact Range (SPHIR Facility) utilizes a two-stage, light gas gun to accelerate Nylon 6/6 right cylinders (d = 1.8 mm, L/D=1, 5.5 mg) and spheres (d = 1.8 mm, 3.6 mg) to impact speeds of 5 km/s and above. The projectiles impact aluminum 6061-T6 plate targets. An optical technique was employed to produce images of the hypervelocity impact event with short exposure times (20 ns) and short inter-frame times (