2009 R&D 100 Winner
Computer modeling of material damage and fracture during shock conditions is an active research area and is needed to simulate and understand how different materials fatigue. However, experimental data is needed to benchmark the computer modeling parameters. A team of researchers at National Security Technologies (NSTec) LLC, of Los Alamos, N.M., and Santa Barbara, Calif., and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M. produced a holographic imaging device that can help scientists study various materials surfaces under shock-loaded conditions. Their innovations allow the High-Resolution UV Holography Lens for Particle Size Distribution Measurements to record ejecta particles as small as 0.5 μm at a resolution of 2,200 lp/mm in a 12-mm-diameter by 5-mm-thick volume. The use of ultraviolet light more than doubled the resolution of previous efforts, and the addition of a CCD camera reduces the number of holograms that need to be recorded. Data throughput is impressive: 4.5 TB from a single hologram.
Technology
Holographic imaging device
Developers
National Security Technologies (NSTec) LLC
Los Alamos National Laboratory
