Laser-Induced Spallation and Dynamic Fracture at Ultra High Strain Rate

Pulsed high irradiance laser induced shock waves are being used for assessing the dynamic fracture behavior of materials at extreme conditions. Theories [1, 2] have long predicted that very strong shock waves in the kbar-Mbar regime could be produced in small samples with pulsed lasers. Recent experiments have shown that this idea is not only a theoretical possibility, but also a practical way to obtain pressures and strain rates previously unachievable in a laboratory environment.