A Remote Holographic Diagnostics System for Aeroballistics and Impact Ranges

The U.S. Air Force has a requirement for a diagnostics system that is capable of recording the physics of impact of projectiles (missiles) with structures. The required inforamtion includes the flow field around the projectile, the formation, distribution, and characteristics of impact fragments, the flow fields around the fragments, and the nature of the structure during impact. Holography is ideally suited for the recording of highly dynamic three dimensional events such as explosions and impact phenomena, and is the only optical techniques available, with the potential of recording all of the rquired data. By recording a wavefront that has passed through the test field, the three dimensional characterization of both the amplitude and phase information in the field is possible. This research and development program will produce an optimum design of a holography system that can satisfy the requirement and will conduct tests of individual components of the esign to demonstrate the technology and to refine the design.