Photographic Applications

Repetitively pulsed lasers have been developed that have served as excellent illumination sources for high speed framing photography. This invited paper discusses the general subject of laser illuminators for high speed photography as well as specific capabilities of a high repetition rate Q switched ruby laser system that provides laser pulse repetition rates up to 1 MHz. Individual laser pulse energies of ~ 1 J are obtained at a laser repetition rate of 250 kHz, and proportionately lower energies as the pulse repetition rate is increased to 1 MHz. Nearly uniform pulse to pulse micropulse laser pulse energies are obtained providing for nearly constant illumination over the ~ 120 s laser pulse envelope duration. Example images are provided illustrating the integration of the ruby laser system and camera system with a gun range to obtain high speed framing camera images of ballistic events