System for high-speed time-resolved holography of transient events

A configuration for sequential holographic recording based on a new system for obtaining a train of spatially separated light pulses at frequencies ranging from 6 to 35 MHz has been developed. The multipulse system uses a high-energy Q-switched Nd:YAG laser as a light source and incorporates a phase-front-preserving optical delay line and a specially graded beam splitter to produce as many as ten spatially separated light pulses of nearly equal energy. The temporal spacing between successive output pulses may be varied discretely in increments of 28.3 ns from 28.3 to 169.8 ns. The system is currently used for high-speed time-resolved holography of dynamic events with lifetimes between 100 ns and 1.5 micros. Other applications include using the system either as a single point or sequential-array source for laser generation of ultrasound.