Flexible fiber optic probe for high-pressure shock experiments

A fiber optic probe for the instrumentation of high-pressure shock experiments, comprising

• a frame to which and in which optical fibers and optical elements are attached, with adjustable flexure for the purpose of alignment of said optical fibers and said optical elements;
• a specimen-illuminating optical fiber for the transmission of light from a laser, the end of said fiber being held at an optimal position in said frame;
• a reflected-light optical fiber for the transmission of laser light, which has been reflected from a specimen surface whose velocity is to be measured, to light diagnostics instrumentation, the end of said reflected-light fiber being held in said frame at a point of concentration of the reflected light from said specimen surface;
• one or more optical elements so disposed on or within said frame as to concentrate the light emanating from said specimen-illuminating fiber onto said specimen surface, and to concentrate light reflected from said specimen surface onto the end of said reflected-light optical fiber;
• and means for attaching or fixing said optical fibers and said optical elements to their assigned locations in or on said frame.