Micro-Particle Debris Characterization from Hyper-Velocity Impacts

An ultra-high speed visible and near-infrared (VNIR) hyperspectral radiometric temperature imager will be developed in this program. The instrument is based on a high speed hyperspectral imager spanning the wavelength range 0.4-0.9 micron and providing hyperspectral data-cubes at rates of 13,500 Hz or faster. The high speed spatial imagery provides trajectory information to determine size and speed of the particles, and the spectral information is used to determine particle temperature with a proprietary temperature estimation algorithm. Recently we demonstrated the capability to measure sample surface temperatures up to 2000K during laser materials processing by combining our hyperspectral imaging technology with this temperature estimation algorithm. The algorithm finds the emissivity curve for each particle, even as the emissivity is changing with time, and then is able to determine temperature. This proven approach will be used to accurately determine particle debris temperatures from 500K to 6000K with a precision of 30K. Approved for Public Release 14-MDA-7663 (8 January 14)