A New High-Resolution Launch Pad for Laser-Induced Particle Impact Testing

Laser-induced particle impact testing (LIPIT) has unveiled the behavior of a wide range of materials at high strain rates and small scales since its introduction ten years ago. In this first decade of high-velocity microparticle impact research, hardly any modification of the original experimental setup has been necessary. However, future avenues for the field require advancements of the experimental method to expand its breadth. Here we introduce a new design concept for the launch pad that offers a number of improvements. First, it enables precision of the impact location better than typical particle diameters. Second it paves the way to patterning of advanced impactors to be used for LIPIT. Third, it unlocks experiments at higher temperatures than previously possible. This talk will review these new capabilities and others more generally enabled by evolution of the LIPIT launch structure.