Laser ranging retro-reflector - Continuing measurements and expected results
Reflected ruby, laser pulses from Apollo 11 laser ranging retro-reflector /LRRR/ with telescope, measuring round trip travel time of light
Alley, C. O.↗
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Results for “RUBY LASER”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Photodissociation of nitrogen dioxide by pulsed laser light at 6943 A.
Nitrogen dioxide was photodissociated using a pulsed ruby laser at 6943 A. The energy of a single photon at this wavelength was equivalent to only 57% of the dissociation energy. The mechanism proposed to account for the results was the consecutive absorption of two photons, the first resulting in a short-lived excited state. The second photon is then absorbed by the excited species resulting in dissociation.
Gerstmayr, J. W.↗
The applications of laser tracking to the measurement of intersite distance
Range data from ruby laser systems tracking Geos-3 and Beacon Explorer C from Greenbelt, Md., Bermuda, and San Diego and Quincy, Calif. were analyzed to establish baselines for these sites. A least-squares adjustment was applied to the data. Results with an estimated precision of 20 cm, obtained using the GEM 8 gravity model (Wagner et al., in press), are: San Diego-Greenbelt, 3606 km; Greenbelt-Bermuda, 1323 km; San Diego-Quincy, 908 km.
Smith, D. E.↗
Laser system used for dynamic balancing of gyros
System using a pulsed ruby laser balances or trims gyro rotors spinning at speeds of up to 24,000 rpm. It is designed to detect high spots on the spinning rotor and to focus a precisely timed laser beam on these detected spots.
Popick, H.↗
The procurement and evaluation of a prototype laser satellite-tracking system Final report, 1 Jan. 1967 - 30 Sep. 1968
Pulsed ruby laser satellite tracking system
Anderson, P. H.↗
Laser backscatter correlation with turbulent regions of the atmosphere.
Enhanced radiation backscatter, using ground based ruby laser output and jet aircraft-borne instruments, correlated with clear air turbulence
Lawrence, J. D., Jr.↗
Holographic contouring via multifrequency lasers.
Holographic image range contouring produced by multifrequency emission from resonant output reflector in pulsed ruby laser cavity
Heflinger, L. O.↗
The s-66 laser satellite tracking experiment.
S-66 optical tracking experiment consisting of satellite borne reflector with pulsed ruby laser to measure time of flight for accurate range
REFLECTOR SATELLITE SYSTEM↗
Pulsed laser holography
Pulsed laser holography, discussing illumination source and holocameras for high contrast recording with Q switched ruby lasers
Heflinger, L. O.↗
Survey of Beamed Energy Propulsion Concepts by the MSFC Space Environmental Effects Team
This will be a survey paper of work that was performed by the Space Environmental Effects Team at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in the area of laser energy propulsion concepts. Two types of laser energy propulsion techniques were investigated. The first was ablative propulsion, which used a pulsed ruby laser impacting on single layer coatings and films. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the laser power density that produced an optimum coupling coefficient for each type of material tested. A commercial off-the-shelf multi-layer film was also investigated for possible applications in ablative micro-thrusters, and its optimum coupling coefficient was determined. The second type of study measured the purely photonic force provided by a 300W CW YAG laser. In initial studies, the photon force resulting from the momentum of incident photons was measured directly using a vacuum compatible microbalance and these results were compared to theory. Follow-on work used the same CW laser to excite a stable optical cavity for the purpose of amplifying the available force from incident photons.
Gray, P. A.↗
Laser heating of ionized helium
High energy density plasma generation by heating He gas to high temperatures with electric discharge and focused ruby laser beam
Scherrer, V. E.↗
Integrated laser/radar satellite ranging and tracking system
A laser satellite ranging system that is mounted upon and integrated with a microwave tracking radar is reported. The 1-pulse/sec ruby laser transmitter is attached directly to the radar's elevation axis and radiates through a new opening in the radar's parabolic dish. The laser photomultiplier tube receiver utilizes the radar's existing 20-cm diam f/11 boresight telescope and observes through a similar symmetrically located opening in the dish. The laser system possesses separate ranging system electronics but shares the radar's timing, computer, and data handling/recording systems. The basic concept of the laser/radar is outlined together with a listing of the numerous advantages over present singular laser range-finding systems. The developmental laser hardware is described along with preliminary range-finding results and expectations.
Hoge, F. E.↗
The third generation SLR station Potsdam no. 7836
The new satellite laser ranging (SLR) station Potsdam has been installed during the winter of 1991/1992 in an existing dome near the old ruby laser at Helmert Tower. It has been built around a one-meter-Coude telescope and is equipped by a 50 ps Nd:YAG laser and a SPAD receiver. The first successful Lageos passes were obtained in May 1992 demonstrating 2-3 cm rms at the single photon level. The new station will be used for experimental work and selected campaigns as well.
Fischer, H.↗
Extreme-ultraviolet aluminum spectra emitted from a laser-produced plasma.
Five new aluminum lines in the region from 35 to 50 A have been produced by focusing the radiation of a 460-MW, Q-spoiled ruby laser on an aluminum target. Characteristics of the new lines, including their observed and predicted wavelength, intensity, and transition, are tabulated.
Williams, M. D.↗
Direct laser initiation of insensitive explosives.
Instantaneous longitudinal detonations have been observed in confined columns of PETN, RDX, and tetryl when pulsed with light energy from a focused Q-switched ruby laser. The laser energy ranged from 0.5 to 4.2 J with a pulse width of 25 nsec. Enhancement of the ignition mechanism is hypothesized when a 1000 A thick aluminum film is vacuum deposited on the explosive side of the window. Upon irradiation from the laser, a shock is generated at the aluminum-explosive interface. Steady-state detonations can be reached in less than 0.5 microsec with less than 10% variation in detonation velocity for PETN and RDX.
Menichelli, V. J.↗
Initiation of insensitive explosives by laser energy
Instantaneous longitudinal detonations were observed in confined columns of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX), and tetryl when these materials were pulsed with light energy from a focused Q-switch ruby laser. The laser energy ranged from 0.5 to 4.2 J with a pulse width of 25 ns. Enhancement of the ignition mechanism is hypothesized when a 100-nm (1000-A) thick aluminum film is vacuum-deposited on the explosive side of the window. Upon irradiation from the laser, a shock is generated at the aluminum explosive interface. Steady state detonations can be reached in less than 0.5 microseconds with less than 10% variation in detonation velocity for PETN and RDX.
Menichelli, V. J.↗
Holographic studies of shock waves within transonic fan rotors
NASA has funded two separate contracts to apply pulsed laser holographic interferometry to the detection of shock patterns in the outer span regions of high tip speed transonic rotors. The first holographic approach used ruby laser light reflected from a portion of the centerbody just ahead of the rotor. These holograms showed the bow wave patterns upstream of the rotor and the shock patterns just inside the blade row near the tip. The second holographic approach, on a different rotor, used light transmitted diagonally across the inlet annulus past the centerbody. This approach gave a more extensive view of the region bounded by the blade leading and trailing edges, by the part span shroud and by the blade tip. These holograms showed the passage shock emanating from the blade leading edge and a moderately strong conical shock originating at the intersection of the part span shroud leading edge and the blade suction surface.
Benser, W. A.↗
Holographic studies of shock waves within transonic fan rotors
Pulsed laser holographic interferometry has been applied to the detection of shock patterns in the outer span regions of high tip speed transonic rotors. The first holographic approach used ruby laser light reflected from a portion of the centerbody just ahead of the rotor. These holograms showed the bow wave patterns upstream of the rotor and the shock patterns just inside the blade row near the tip. Much of the region of interest was in the shadow of the blade leading edge and could not be visualized. The second holographic approach, on a different rotor, used light transmitted diagonally across the inlet annulus past the centerbody. This approach gave a more extensive view of the region bounded by the blade leading and trailing edges, by the part span shroud and by the blade tip. These holograms showed the passage shock emanating from the blade leading edge and a moderately strong conical shock originating at the intersection of the part span shroud leading edge and the blade suction surface. Reasonable details of the shock patterns were obtained from holograms which were made without extensive rig modifications.
Benser, W. A.↗