Apparatus for the Production and Ignition of Metal Droplets with a Pulsed Laser

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Abstract
An apparatus is described which forms and ignites single metal droplets in a controlled atmosphere chamber with a single pulse of focused radiation from a Nd‐doped glass laser. Before heating, tiny bits of metal‐spheres, granules, or squares of foil‐are supported in the laser focus either on crossed fibers of the same metal or in an electrostatic levitation device. Photographs of burning droplets at high magnification, complete trajectories, radiant emission histories recorded with a photomultiplier, and time‐resolved emission spectra are presented as examples of the information that can be obtained with the apparatus.