High-energy pulse-burst laser system for megahertz-rate flow visualization

A high-pulse-energy megahertz-repetition-rate Nd:YAG-based pulse-burst laser system has been developed. The laser can produce a burst of more than 30 pulses, with an average energy per pulse of 70 mJ, at up to 1-MHz repetition rate. The burst repetition rate is 9 Hz. Coupled with a megahertz-framing-rate CCD camera, the frequency-doubled pulse-burst laser system has been successfully used in the visualization of shock evolution in a supersonic flow.