Accurate measurement of laser-driven shock trajectories with velocity interferometry

We describe a velocity interferometer used to measure the velocity and trajectory of laser driven shocks in liquid deuterium accurately and continuously. This demonstration of velocity interferometry to measure shock velocity and shock trajectory in condensed matter shows strong potential for future studies of laser-driven shocks in transparent media. Accuracy of this technique can be better than 1% in velocity and +/-0.2 mu m in position during a 10 ns interval. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)02236-0].