This work is supported by the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education (award # 2021157) as part of the IUSE: EHR program

1. Building and assembly of the ping-pong cannon (PPC)
<ol>
	<li>Assemble all the components of the PPC according to Figure 1.</li>
	<li>Insert two high-clarity acrylic windows in the sides of the cannon to allow for optical probing across the interior of the cannon.
	<ol>
		<li>Drill two 1/2 in holes through opposite sides of the PVC near the cannon&#39;s exit.</li>
		<li>Prepare two 1/8 in thick acrylic windows using a laser engraver. Download the three supplementary svg files. 
		NOTE: There are three files labeled &#34;JoVE_AcrylicWindows_Step1_Engrave.svg&#34; 
		(Supplementary File 1), &#34;JoVE_AcrylicWindows_Step2_Engrave.svg&#34; 
		(Supplementary File 2), and &#34;JoVE_AcrylicWindows_Step3_Cut.svg&#34; 
		(Supplementary File 3). These three files should be used in the order provided by using the process described in the title (engrave/cut). The laser speed and power settings should be set according to the manufacturer&#39;s recommended settings for acrylic. Each engraving step should remove approximately 1/3 of the thickness of the material.</li>
		<li>Add silicon sealant to the edge of the acrylic, being careful not to get any on the window. Then, place windows in the holes, ensuring they are perpendicular to one another. Leave ample time for the silicone to cure after this part of the process. 
		NOTE: If a laser cutter is not available, a piece of clear tape can be wrapped around the circumference of the pipe to seal the 1/2 in holes and act as a window through into the interior of the pipe. Further experimentation can be carried out by inserting additional windows in the cannon to measure the velocity and acceleration of the ping-pong ball along the length of the driven pipe.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Using a belt sander, sand off the face of the flange at the exit of the cannon. Finish sanding with fine-grit sandpaper so that the tape can adhere well to the flange.</li>
	<li>Using a laser cutter, cut an acrylic cap following &#34;JoVE_AcrylicCap_Cut.svg&#34; (Supplementary File 4). Attach a full-faced rubber gasket to the acrylic cap. The acrylic cap is a component of the pressure seal used when firing the PPC.</li>
	<li>Firmly secure the cannon for firing, and position a sturdy container to safely catch the ping-pong ball with ample padding to minimize the impact with the back wall of the container. 
	NOTE: There are many solutions for securing the ping-pong cannon and safely catching the ball. For the presented experiment, a custom clamping system was created to firmly secure the cannon with a horizontal orientation. These clamps can be constructed following &#34;JoVE_CannonMountTemplate.png&#34; (Supplementary File 5).
	<ol>
		<li>Use Supplementary File 5 as a template to cut out 2 in x 6 in wood planks. Connect the upper and lower portions of the clamping system with a draw latch and hinge to secure the cannon.</li>
		<li>Line the insides of the clamps with rubber gasket material to prevent the slipping of the cannon during the firing process. Attach the connected upper and lower portions of the clamping system to the base using four corner brackets.</li>
		<li>Mount the completed clamping system to a tabletop using four C-clamps. Construct a 13 in x 13 in x 24 in plywood container, and back it with four 1 in plywood sheets to catch the ping-pong ball. Place a cushioning material in the container to prevent ball rebounds. Mount this container with C-clamps to a tabletop.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Building and assembly of the supersonic ping-pong cannon (SSPPC)
<ol>
	<li>Assemble all the components of the driver pipe following Figure 2. 
	NOTE: The primary difference between the PPC and the SSPPC is that the SSPPC is augmented with a driving, pressurized section of schedule 80 PVC pipe that is connected to the entrance of the PPC. Therefore, if the PPC has already been constructed, all that remains to be assembled to construct the SSPPC is the driver pipe section.</li>
	<li>Firmly secure the cannon for firing and position a sturdy container that can safely catch the ping-pong ball with ample padding to minimize the impact on the back wall of the container. 
	&#8203;NOTE: The mounting and catching systems described in step 1.5 are the same systems used to secure the SSPPC.</li>
</ol>
3. Optical diagnostics
<ol>
	<li>Set up the laser, beam splitter, mirror, and photoreceivers by mounting the components on an optical breadboard, according to Figure 3. Orient the laser perpendicularly to the cannon, with the first beam traversing the interior of the pipe through the acrylic windows and the second passing just outside of the cannon exit.</li>
	<li>Power the photoreceivers and laser module by connecting them to a 15 V current limited power supply and laser power supply. Connect the photoreceivers to the two channels of the oscilloscope using BNC cables.</li>
	<li>Place black electrical tape over half of the photoreceiver sensor. The tape serves as a &#34;knife edge&#34; to create a sensitive shock detection setup. 
	NOTE: The sensitivity of the knife-edge detection can be further enhanced using a converging lens to focus the beam on the knife edge. The sensitivity can also be enhanced by increasing the distance the beam travels to the photoreceiver, resulting in a greater refractive displacement of the beam.</li>
	<li>Prior to setting the trigger level on the oscilloscope, pay special attention to avoid clipping, which can result from the sensitivity of the knife-edge setup. To avoid clipping, adjust the position of the beam on the knife edge so that the baseline voltage is approximately 50% of the maximum voltage. The maximum voltage is the voltage when the full beam is on the unobstructed detector.
	<ol>
		<li>Adjust the settings on the oscilloscope to collect 20 million data points. Set the data acquisition rate to 500 MHz by adjusting the horizontal scale knob. Turn the trigger knob to trip at a voltage slightly below the baseline voltage acquired from the photoreceiver. 
		&#8203;NOTE: The velocity of the ping-pong ball can be found through simple mathematics using the photoreceiver modules. The velocity is the diameter of the ping-pong ball divided by the time the beam is obstructed by the ball. A microprocessor is utilized to process the signal received from the interior photoreceiver module to automatically measure the velocity of the ball at the end of the cannon.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Automatic velocity measurements
<ol>
	<li>To utilize a microprocessor for automatic velocity measurements, convert the signal from the photoreceiver module to a 0-5 V pulse, as shown in Figure 5, using a comparator that triggers at approximately 10% of the baseline voltage. Connect the converted signal to port 7 of the microprocessor.</li>
	<li>Download &#34;JoVE_AutomaticVelocityDisplay.ino&#34; (Supplementary File 6), and upload it to the microprocessor.</li>
	<li>Connect the RA8875 display and driver board to the designated ports on the microprocessor.</li>
</ol>
5. Setup and firing of the ping-pong cannon
<ol>
	<li>Put on ear and eye protection before firing the cannon.</li>
	<li>Insert a ping-pong ball into the exit of the cannon. Blow lightly into the end of the cannon until the ball hits the vacuum fitting near the entrance of the pipe.</li>
	<li>Secure a 3 in x 3 in square of tape onto the flange at the exiting end of the cannon and a second square onto the acrylic cap. Seal the tape such that it adheres to the surface of the flange and cap. 
	NOTE: If there are any wrinkles or large bubbles, the tape needs to be discarded. If the tape does not sufficiently adhere to the surface, the vacuum can be lost, and the cannon can fire prematurely. If at any point the vacuum is lost, the needle valve connected to the vacuum pump can be opened to bring the system to equilibrium.</li>
	<li>Ensure the laser beam is centered on the knife edge, the trigger is properly set, and the catching container is secure.</li>
	<li>Turn on the vacuum pump to evacuate the pipe to a reduced absolute pressure of less than 2 Torr. Once a sufficient vacuum has been reached, puncture the tape at the entrance with a sharp object such as a broadhead or razor tip.</li>
	<li>After firing, turn off the vacuum pump. Remove the tape from the exit flange and the acrylic cap.</li>
</ol>
6. Setup and firing of the supersonic ping-pong cannon
<ol>
	<li>For safety, wear hearing and eye protection throughout the firing process.</li>
	<li>Cut sheets of 0.0005 in, 0.001 in, and 0.002 in polyester film that match the dimensions of the flange. These sheets can be cut by hand or, preferably, using a laser cutter. Use the supplementary file &#34;JoVE_MylarDiaphram_Cut.svg&#34; (Supplementary File 7) as an outline. 
	NOTE: For the purpose of this experiment, the cannon was fired with single sheets of 0.0005 in, 0.001 in, and 0.002 in polyester film, and the results are recorded in Figure 7. A template to laser-cut the polyester film can be found as an SVG file (Supplementary File 7).</li>
	<li>Ensure the valve from the air compressor to the driver pipe is closed. Prefill the air compressor to allow for faster filling of the driver pipe when the cannon is ready to be fired.</li>
	<li>Insert a ping-pong ball into the exit of the cannon. Blow lightly into the end of the cannon until the ball is stopped by the vacuum fitting near the entrance of the driven pipe.</li>
	<li>Secure a 3 in x 3 in square of tape onto the exiting end of the cannon. Seal the tape such that it adheres to the surface of the flange. 
	NOTE: If there are any wrinkles or large bubbles, the tape needs to be discarded. If the tape does not sufficiently adhere to the surface, the vacuum can be lost, and the cannon can fire prematurely. If the vacuum leaks or other complications arise, use the pressure release valve on the driver pipe and the needle valve on the vacuum pump to bring the system to equilibrium.</li>
	<li>Insert a precut thin polyester diaphragm between two rubber gaskets. Place the diaphragm and rubber gaskets between the driver and driven sections of the cannon. Tightly connect the two sections using 4 cam clamps.</li>
	<li>Ensure the laser beam is centered on the knife edge, the trigger is properly set, and the catching container is secure.</li>
	<li>Turn on the vacuum pump to evacuate the pipe to a reduced absolute pressure of less than 2 Torr. Release the pressure from the air compressor into the driver pipe. Allow the pressure to rise until the diaphragm bursts and the compressed air within the driver pipe rapidly fills the evacuated driven pipe.</li>
	<li>After the cannon fires, turn off the air compressor and the vacuum pump. Remove the burst polyester diaphragm and tape from the cannon.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Peterson, R. W., Pulford, B. N., Stein, K. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+ping-pong+cannon:+A+closer+look.">The ping-pong cannon: A closer look.</a> The Physics Teacher. 43 (1), 22-25 (2005).</li><li>Olson, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+shock+waves+in+expansion+tube+accelerators.">The role of shock waves in expansion tube accelerators.</a> American Journal of Physics. 74 (12), 1071-1076 (2006).</li><li>Cockman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+vacuum+bazooka.">Improved vacuum bazooka.</a> The Physics Teacher. 41 (4), 246-247 (2003).</li><li>Ayars, E., Buchholtz, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+the+vacuum+cannon.">Analysis of the vacuum cannon.</a> American Journal of Physics. 72 (7), 961-963 (2004).</li><li>Thuecks, D. J., Demas, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modeling+the+effect+of+air-intake+aperture+size+in+the+ping-pong+ball+cannon.">Modeling the effect of air-intake aperture size in the ping-pong ball cannon.</a> American Journal of Physics. 87 (2), 136-140 (2019).</li><li>Liepmann, H. W., Roshko, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Elements of gas dynamics. , (1957).</li><li>Settles, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Schlieren and shadowgraph techniques. , (2001).</li><li>Geisert, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+single+mirror+schlieren+optical+system.">A single mirror schlieren optical system.</a> American Journal of Physics. 52 (5), 467 (1984).</li><li>French, R. M., Gorrepati, V., Alcorta, E., Jackson, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mechanics+of+a+ping-pong+ball+gun.">The mechanics of a ping-pong ball gun.</a> Experimental Techniques. 32 (1), 24-30 (2008).</li><li>French, M., Zehrung, C., Stratton, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+supersonic+ping-pong+gun.">A supersonic ping-pong gun.</a> arXiv. , (2013).</li><li>French, F., Choudhuri, R., Stratton, J., Zehrung, C., Huston, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+modular+supersonic+ping-pong+gun.">A modular supersonic ping-pong gun.</a> arXiv. , (2018).</li><li>Fredrick, C. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complementary+studies+on+supersonic+nozzle+flow:+heterodyne+interferometry,+high-speed+video+shadowgraphy,+and+numerical+simulation.">Complementary studies on supersonic nozzle flow: heterodyne interferometry, high-speed video shadowgraphy, and numerical simulation.</a> WIT Transactions on Modelling and Simulation. 59, 223-234 (2015).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

We have presented a method for the construction of a PPC and an SSPPC along with optical diagnostics for the measurement of ball velocities and for the characterization of shock propagation near the exit of the cannon. The standard PPC is constructed with a 2 m section of 1.5 in schedule 80 PVC pipe. The pipe is fitted with flanges at each end, quick-connect vacuum fittings, and acrylic windows near the exit for laser diagnostics. A detailed schematic of the PPC is shown in Figure 1. Prior t...

The PPC is a popular physics demonstration used to show the immense air pressure to which people are continually exposed1,2,3,4,5. The demonstration involves the placement of a ping-pong ball in a section of pipe that has an inner diameter that is approximately equal to the diameter of the ball. The pipe is sealed off on each end with tape and evacuated to an internal pressure of less than 2 Torr. The tape on one end of the pipe is punctured, which allows air to enter the cannon and causes the ball to experience peak accelerations of approximately 5,000 g&#39;s. The ball, which is accelerated by atmospheric pressure alone, exits the cannon at a speed of approximately 300 m/s after traveling 2 m.
Although the PPC is commonly operated as a simple demonstration of atmospheric pressure, it is also an apparatus that exhibits complex compressible flow physics, which has resulted in numerous open-ended student projects. The dynamics of the ball are influenced by secondary factors such as wall friction, the leakage of air around the ball, and the formation of shock waves by the accelerating ball. The substantial acceleration of the ball introduces a large-amplitude compression wave that travels down the tube in front of the ball. These compressions travel faster than the local sound speed, resulting in a steepening of the compression wave and the eventual formation of a shock wave6. Previous work has studied the rapid buildup of pressure at the exit of the tube due to the reflections of the shock wave between the ball and the taped exit of the tube and the resulting detachment of the tape prior to the exit of the ball2. High-speed video using a single-mirror schlieren imaging technique has revealed the response of the tape to the reflecting shock waves and the eventual detachment of the tape at the exit of the PPC7,8 (Video 1). Thus, the PPC serves as both a simple demonstration of air pressure that intrigues audiences of all ages and as a device exhibiting complex fluid physics, which can be studied in great detail in a laboratory setting.
With the standard PPC, the ping-pong ball speeds are limited by the speed of sound. This basic version of the PPC is covered in the scope of this paper, along with a modified cannon used to boost the ball to supersonic speeds. In previous work by French et al., supersonic ping-pong ball speeds have been achieved by utilizing pressure-driven flow through a converging-diverging nozzle9,10,11. The SSPPC presented here utilizes a pressurized (driver) pipe to provide a larger pressure differential on the ping-pong ball than is provided by atmospheric pressure alone. A thin polyester diaphragm is utilized to separate the driver pipe from the evacuated (driven) pipe containing the ball. This diaphragm ruptures under sufficient gage pressure (generally 5-70 psi, depending on the diaphragm thickness), thus accelerating the ping-pong ball to speeds up to Mach 1.4. The supersonic ping-pong ball produces a standing shock wave, as can be seen using high-speed shadowgraph imaging techniques7,12 (Video 2).
A low-power (class II) HeNe laser is used to carry out optical diagnostic studies on the performance of the cannon. The HeNe laser beam is split into two paths, with one path traversing through a set of acrylic windows near the exit of the cannon and the second path traversing just past the exit of the cannon. Each path terminates on a photoreceiver, and the signal is displayed on a dual-channel oscilloscope. The oscilloscope trace recorded during the firing of the cannon reveals information about both the speed of the accelerated ping-pong ball and the compressible flow and shock waves that precede the exit of the ball from the cannon. The speed of the 40 mm diameter ping-pong ball at each beam location is directly related to the time the ball blocks the beam. A sensitive &#34;knife-edge&#34; shock detection setup is achieved by covering half of the detector with a piece of black electrical tape and positioning the edge of the tape at the center of the beam2. With this setup, slight deflections of the He-Ne laser beam, produced by the compressible flow-induced index of refraction gradients, are clearly visible as voltage spikes on the oscilloscope trace. The shock waves traveling toward the cannon exit and the reflected shock waves deflect the beam in opposite directions and are, therefore, identified by either a positive or negative voltage spike.
Here, we provide instructions for the construction and utilization of an optimized PPC and SSPPC, as well as optical diagnostic techniques (Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3). The optical diagnostic techniques and measurements have been developed through previous years of study1,2.

<table><tbody><tr><td>15 V Current Limited Power Supply</td><td>New Focus</td><td>0901</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>2&quot; x 6&quot; Plank</td><td>Home Depot</td><td>BTR KD-HT S</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>5.0&quot; 40-pin 800 x 480 TFT Display</td><td>Adafruit</td><td>1680</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Absolute Pressure Gauge</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>1791T3</td><td>0&amp;ndash;20 Torr | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Air Compressor</td><td>Porter Cable</td><td>C2002</td><td>6 gallon | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Arduino UNO Rev3</td><td>Arduino</td><td>A000066</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>ASME-Code Fast-Acting Pressure-Relief Valve&lt;br/&gt; for Air</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>5784T13</td><td>Nickel-Plated, 3/8 NPT, 125 PSI Set Pressure | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Black Electrical Tape</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>76455A21</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>BNC Cable</td><td>Digikey Number</td><td>115-095-850-277M050-ND</td><td>Quantity: 2</td></tr><tr><td>Broadband Dielectric Mirror</td><td>THORLABS</td><td>BB05-E02</td><td>400&amp;ndash;750 nm, &amp;Oslash;1/2&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>C-Clamp</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>5133A15</td><td>3&quot; opening, 2&quot; reach | Quantity: 6</td></tr><tr><td>Cam Clamp</td><td>Rockler</td><td>58252</td><td>Size: 5/16&quot;-18 | Quantity: 2 (2 pack)</td></tr><tr><td>Digital Pressure Gauge</td><td>Omega Engineering, Inc.</td><td>DPG104S</td><td>0&amp;ndash;100 Psi Absolute Pressure, With Output and Alarms | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Digital Pressure Gauge</td><td>Omega Engineering, Inc.</td><td>DPG104S</td><td>0&amp;ndash;100 Psi Absolute Pressure, With Output and Alarms | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Draw Latch</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>1889A37</td><td>Size: 3 3/4&quot; x 7/8&quot; | Quantity: 4</td></tr><tr><td>Driver Board for 40-pin TFT Touch Displays</td><td>Adafruit</td><td>1590</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Full Faced EPDM Gasket</td><td>PVC Fittings Online</td><td>155G125125FF150</td><td>Quantity: 2</td></tr><tr><td>Gasket Material</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>9470K41</td><td>15&quot; x 15&quot;, 1/8&quot; thick | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Glowforge Plus</td><td>Glowforge</td><td>Glowforge Plus</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>HeNe Laser</td><td>Uniphase</td><td>1108</td><td>Class 2 | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>High Tack Box Sealing Tape</td><td>Scotch</td><td>53344</td><td>72 mm wide&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Laser Power Supply</td><td>Uniphase</td><td>1201-1</td><td>115 V .12 A | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>LM311 Comparator</td><td>Digikey Electronics</td><td>296-1389-5-ND</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Mirror Mount</td><td>THORLABS</td><td>FMP05</td><td>Fixed &amp;Oslash;1/2&quot;, 8&amp;ndash;32 Tap | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Moisture-Resistant Polyester Film</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>8567K102</td><td>10&#039; x 0.0005&quot; x 27&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Moisture-Resistant Polyester Film</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>8567K12</td><td>10&#039; x 0.001&quot; x 40&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Moisture-Resistant Polyester Film</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>8567K22</td><td>10&#039; x 0.002&quot; x 40&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Mourtise-Mount Hinge with Holes</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>1598A52</td><td>Size: 1&quot; x 1/2&quot; | Quantity: 4</td></tr><tr><td>Needle Valve</td><td>Robbins Aviation Inc</td><td>INSG103-1P</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Non-Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters</td><td>THORLABS</td><td>BS037</td><td>Size: 10 mm | Quantity: 2</td></tr><tr><td>Nonmetallic PVC Schedule 40</td><td>Cantex</td><td>A52BE12</td><td>Quantity: 2.5 m&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Oatey PVC Cement and Primer</td><td>PVC Fittings Online</td><td>30246</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Oil-Resistant Compressible Buna-N Gasket with Holes and Adhesive</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>8516T454</td><td>1-1/2 Pipe Size, ANSI 150, 1/16&quot; Thick | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Oscilliscope</td><td>Tektronix</td><td>TBS2102</td><td>Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Photoreceiver</td><td>New Focus</td><td>1801</td><td>125-MHz | Quantity: 2</td></tr><tr><td>Ping Pong Balls</td><td>MAPOL</td><td>FBA_MP-001</td><td>Three Star</td></tr><tr><td>Platform Mount for 10mm Beamsplitter and Right-Angle Prisms</td><td>THORLABS</td><td>BSH10</td><td>4-40 Tap | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Proofgrade High Clarity Clear Acrylic</td><td>Glowforge</td><td>NA</td><td>Thickness: 1/8&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Sch 80 PVC Cap</td><td>PVC Fittings Online</td><td>847-040</td><td>Size: 4&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Sch 80 PVC Pipe</td><td>PVC Fittings Online</td><td>8008-040AB-5</td><td>Quantity: 5 ft</td></tr><tr><td>Sch 80 PVC Reducer Coupling</td><td>PVC Fittings Online</td><td>829-419</td><td>Size: 4&quot; x 1-1/2&quot; | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Sch 80 PVC Slip Flange</td><td>PVC Fittings Online</td><td>851-015</td><td>Size: 1 1/2&quot; | Quantity: 3</td></tr><tr><td>Silicone Sealant Dow Corning</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>7587A2</td><td>3 oz. Tube, Clear | Quantity: 1</td></tr><tr><td>Steel Corner Bracket</td><td>McMaster-Carr</td><td>1556A42</td><td>Size: 1 1/2&quot; x 1 1/2&quot; x 1/2&quot; | Quantity: 16</td></tr><tr><td>Vacuum Pump</td><td>Mastercool</td><td>&amp;nbsp;MSC-90059-MD</td><td>1 Stage, 1.5 CFM, 1/6HP, 115V/60HZ</td></tr></tbody></table>

high-speed optical diagnostics of a supersonic ping-pong cannon

The traditional ping-pong cannon (PPC) is an educational apparatus that launches a ping-pong ball down an evacuated pipe to nearly sonic speeds using atmospheric pressure alone. The SSPPC, an augmented version of the PPC, achieves supersonic speeds by accelerating the ball with greater than atmospheric pressure. We provide instructions for the construction and utilization of an optimized PPC and SSPPC.
Optical diagnostics are implemented for the purpose of investigating the cannon dynamics. A HeNe laser that is sent through two acrylic windows near the exit of the pipe is terminated on a photoreceiver sensor. A microprocessor measures the time that the beam is obstructed by the ping-pong ball to automatically calculate the ball's velocity. The results are immediately presented on an LCD display. 
An optical knife-edge setup provides a highly sensitive means of detecting shock waves by cutting off a fraction of the HeNe beam at the sensor. Shock waves cause refraction-induced deflections of the beam, which are observed as small voltage spikes in the electrical signal from the photoreceiver. 
The methods presented are highly reproducible and offer the opportunity for further investigation in a laboratory setting.

Here, we provide instructions for the construction and utilization of a PPC and an SSPPC, along with the implementation of the optical diagnostics for shock characterization and velocity measurements. Representative experimental results are also provided. The completed systems of the PPC and SSPPC, along with necessary accessories, are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The SSPPC is an augmented version of the PPC, where a driving, pressurized section of pipe is co...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about High-Speed Optical Diagnostics of a Supersonic Ping-Pong Cannon at JoVE.com

High-Speed Optical Diagnostics of a Supersonic Ping-Pong Cannon

We describe a method for the construction of a supersonic ping-pong cannon (SSPPC) along with optical diagnostic techniques for the measurement of ball velocities and the characterization of propagating shock waves during the firing of the cannon.

The traditional ping-pong cannon (PPC) is an educational apparatus that launches a ping-pong ball down an evacuated pipe to nearly sonic speeds using ...

high-speed-optical-diagnostics-of-a-supersonic-ping-pong-cannon

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Kinematics of a Particle

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1.1K Views.  Bethel University. We geven instructies voor het bouwen en bedienen van een supersonisch pingpongkanon, samen met optische diagnostische technieken voor het meten van balsnelheden en het detecteren van schokgolven. De optische mesrandopstelling is zeer gevoelig voor kleine, doorkruisende afbuigingen van een laserstraal en biedt een middel voor het detecteren van schokgolven die verband houden met het kanon. Om te beginnen voedt u de foto-ontvangers en lasermodule door ze aan te sluiten op een 15 volt stroombepe...

Video: High-Speed Optical Diagnostics of a Supersonic Ping-Pong Cannon

Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses

Early plasma is generated owing to high intensity laser irradiation of target and the subsequent target material ionization. Its dynamics plays a significant role in laser-material interaction, especially in the air environment1-11.
Early plasma evolution has been captured through pump-probe shadowgraphy1-3 and interferometry1,4-7. However, the studied time frames and applied laser parameter ranges are limited. For example, direct examinations of plasma front locations and electron number densities within a delay time of 100 picosecond (ps) with respect to the laser pulse peak are still very few, especially for the ultrashort pulse of a duration around 100 femtosecond (fs) and a low power density around 1014 W/cm2. Early plasma generated under these conditions has only been captured recently with high temporal and spatial resolutions12. The detailed setup strategy and procedures of this high precision measurement will be illustrated in this paper. The rationale of the measurement is optical pump-probe shadowgraphy: one ultrashort laser pulse is split to a pump pulse and a probe pulse, while the delay time between them can be adjusted by changing their beam path lengths. The pump pulse ablates the target and generates the early plasma, and the probe pulse propagates through the plasma region and detects the non-uniformity of electron number density. In addition, animations are generated using the calculated results from the simulation model of Ref. 12 to illustrate the plasma formation and evolution with a very high resolution (0.04 ~ 1 ps).
Both the experimental method and the simulation method can be applied to a broad range of time frames and laser parameters. These methods can be used to examine the early plasma generated not only from metals, but also from semiconductors and insulators.

An experimental method to examine the early plasma evolution induced by ultrashort laser pulses is described. Using this method, high quality images of early plasma are obtained with high temporal and spatial resolutions. A novel integrated atomistic model is used to simulate and explain the mechanisms of early plasma.

Early plasma is generated owing to high intensity laser irradiation of target and the subsequent target material ionization. Its dynamics plays a ...

High-speed Particle Image Velocimetry Near Surfaces

Multi-dimensional and transient flows play a key role in many areas of science, engineering, and health sciences but are often not well understood. The complex nature of these flows may be studied using particle image velocimetry (PIV), a laser-based imaging technique for optically accessible flows. Though many forms of PIV exist that extend the technique beyond the original planar two-component velocity measurement capabilities, the basic PIV system consists of a light source (laser), a camera, tracer particles, and analysis algorithms. The imaging and recording parameters, the light source, and the algorithms are adjusted to optimize the recording for the flow of interest and obtain valid velocity data. 
Common PIV investigations measure two-component velocities in a plane at a few frames per second. However, recent developments in instrumentation have facilitated high-frame rate (&gt; 1 kHz) measurements capable of resolving transient flows with high temporal resolution. Therefore, high-frame rate measurements have enabled investigations on the evolution of the structure and dynamics of highly transient flows. These investigations play a critical role in understanding the fundamental physics of complex flows.
A detailed description for performing high-resolution, high-speed planar PIV to study a transient flow near the surface of a flat plate is presented here. Details for adjusting the parameter constraints such as image and recording properties, the laser sheet properties, and processing algorithms to adapt PIV for any flow of interest are included.

A procedure for studying transient flows near boundaries using high-resolution, high-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) is described here. PIV is a non-intrusive measurement technique applicable to any optically accessible flow by optimizing several parameter constraints such as the image and recording properties, the laser sheet properties, and analysis algorithms.

Multi-dimensional and transient flows play a key role in many areas of science, engineering, and health sciences but are often not well understood. The ...

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation

The dynamic fracture of a body is a late-stage phenomenon typically studied under simplified conditions, in which a sample is deformed under uniform stress and strain rate. This can be produced by evenly loading the inner surface of a cylinder. Due to the axial symmetry, as the cylinder expands the wall is placed into a tensile hoop stress that is uniform around the circumference. While there are various techniques to generate this expansion such as explosives, electromagnetic drive, and existing gas gun techniques they are all limited in the fact that the sample cylinder must be at room temperature. We present a new method using a gas gun that facilitates experiments on cylinders from 150 K to 800 K with a consistent, repeatable loading. These highly diagnosed experiments are used to examine the effect of temperature on the fracture mechanisms responsible for failure, and their resulting influence on fragmentation statistics. The experimental geometry employs a steel ogive located inside the target cylinder, with the tip located about halfway in. A single stage light gas gun is then used to launch a polycarbonate projectile into the cylinder at 1,000 m/sec-1. The projectile impacts and flows around the rigid ogive, driving the sample cylinder from the inside. The use of a non-deforming ogive insert allows us to install temperature control hardware inside the rear of the cylinder. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is used for cooling and a resistive high current load for heating. Multiple channels of upshifted photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) track the expansion velocity along the cylinder enabling direct comparison to computer simulations, while High speed imaging is used to measure the strain to failure. The recovered cylinder fragments are also subject to optical and electron microscopy to ascertain the failure mechanism.

Fracture and fragmentation are late stage phenomena in dynamic loading scenarios and are typically studied using explosives. We present a technique for driving expansion using a gas gun which uniquely enables control of both loading rate and sample temperature.

The dynamic fracture of a body is a late-stage phenomenon typically studied under simplified conditions, in which a sample is deformed under uniform ...

Visualization of High Speed Liquid Jet Impaction on a Moving Surface

Two apparatuses for examining liquid jet impingement on a high-speed moving surface are described: an air cannon device (for examining surface speeds between 0 and 25 m/sec) and a spinning disk device (for examining surface speeds between 15 and 100 m/sec). The air cannon linear traverse is a pneumatic energy-powered system that is designed to accelerate a metal rail surface mounted on top of a wooden projectile. A pressurized cylinder fitted with a solenoid valve rapidly releases pressurized air into the barrel, forcing the projectile down the cannon barrel. The projectile travels beneath a spray nozzle, which impinges a liquid jet onto its metal upper surface, and the projectile then hits a stopping mechanism. A camera records the jet impingement, and a pressure transducer records the spray nozzle backpressure. The spinning disk set-up consists of a steel disk that reaches speeds of 500 to 3,000 rpm via a variable frequency drive (VFD) motor. A spray system similar to that of the air cannon generates a liquid jet that impinges onto the spinning disc, and cameras placed at several optical access points record the jet impingement. Video recordings of jet impingement processes are recorded and examined to determine whether the outcome of impingement is splash, splatter, or deposition. The apparatuses are the first that involve the high speed impingement of low-Reynolds-number liquid jets on high speed moving surfaces. In addition to its rail industry applications, the described technique may be used for technical and industrial purposes such as steelmaking and may be relevant to high-speed 3D printing.

Two experimental devices for examining liquid jet impingement on a high-speed moving surface are described: an air cannon device and a spinning disk device. The apparatuses are used to determine optimal approaches to the application of liquid friction modifier (LFM) onto rail tracks for top-of-rail friction control.

Two apparatuses for examining liquid jet impingement on a high-speed moving surface are described: an air cannon device (for examining surface speeds ...

Research and Development of High-performance Explosives

Developmental testing of high explosives for military applications involves small-scale formulation, safety testing, and finally detonation performance tests to verify theoretical calculations. For newly developed formulations, the process begins with small-scale mixes, thermal testing, and impact and friction sensitivity. Only then do subsequent larger scale formulations proceed to detonation testing, which will be covered in this paper. Recent advances in characterization techniques have led to unparalleled precision in the characterization of early-time evolution of detonations. The new technique of Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) for the measurement of detonation pressure will be shared and compared with traditional fiber-optic detonation velocity and plate-dent calculation of detonation pressure. In particular, the role of aluminum in explosive formulations will be discussed. Recent developments led to the development of explosive formulations that result in reaction of aluminum very early in the detonation product expansion. This enhanced reaction leads to changes in the detonation velocity and pressure due to reaction of the aluminum with oxygen in the expanding gas products.

Developmental testing of high explosives for military applications involves small-scale formulation, safety testing, and finally detonation performance tests to verify theoretical calculations. This paper will share typical development tests associated with the measurement of detonation velocity and detonation pressure.

Developmental testing of high explosives for military applications involves small-scale formulation, safety testing, and finally detonation performance ...

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

We present a method for visualizing laser-induced, ultrafast molecular rotational wave packet dynamics. We have developed a new 2-dimensional Coulomb explosion imaging setup in which a hitherto-impractical camera angle is realized. In our imaging technique, diatomic molecules are irradiated with a circularly polarized strong laser pulse. The ejected atomic ions are accelerated perpendicularly to the laser propagation. The ions lying in the laser polarization plane are selected through the use of a mechanical slit and imaged with a high-throughput, 2-dimensional detector installed parallel to the polarization plane. Because a circularly polarized (isotropic) Coulomb exploding pulse is used, the observed angular distribution of the ejected ions directly corresponds to the squared rotational wave function at the time of the pulse irradiation. To create a real-time movie of molecular rotation, the present imaging technique is combined with a femtosecond pump-probe optical setup in which the pump pulses create unidirectionally rotating molecular ensembles. Due to the high image throughput of our detection system, the pump-probe experimental condition can be easily optimized by monitoring a real-time snapshot. As a result, the quality of the observed movie is sufficiently high for visualizing the detailed wave nature of motion. We also note that the present technique can be implemented in existing standard ion imaging setups, offering a new camera angle or viewpoint for the molecular systems without the need for extensive modification.

We present a protocol for creating a real-time movie of a molecular rotational wave packet using a high-resolution Coulomb explosion imaging setup.

We present a method for visualizing laser-induced, ultrafast molecular rotational wave packet dynamics. We have developed a new 2-dimensional Coulomb ...

Chemistry

High-speed Continuous-wave Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Spectrometer for Material Analysis

Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the use of spontaneous Brillouin spectrometers for non-contact analysis of soft matter, such as aqueous solutions and biomaterials, with fast acquisition times. Here, we discuss the assembly and operation of a Brillouin spectrometer that uses stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) to measure stimulated Brillouin gain (SBG) spectra of water and lipid emulsion-based tissue-like samples in transmission mode with &lt;10 MHz spectral-resolution and &lt;35 MHz Brillouin-shift measurement precision at &lt;100 ms. The spectrometer consists of two nearly counter-propagating continuous-wave (CW) narrow-linewidth lasers at 780 nm whose frequency detuning is scanned through the material Brillouin shift. By using an ultra-narrowband hot rubidium-85 vapor notch filter and a phase-sensitive detector, the signal-to-noise-ratio of the SBG signal is significantly enhanced compared to that obtained with existing CW-SBS spectrometers. This improvement enables measurement of SBG spectra with up to 100-fold faster acquisition times, thereby facilitating high spectral-resolution and high-precision Brillouin analysis of soft materials at high speed.

We describe the construction of a rapid continuous-wave-stimulated-Brillouin-scattering (CW-SBS) spectrometer. The spectrometer employs single-frequency diode-lasers and an atomic vapor notch-filter to acquire transmission spectra of turbid/non-turbid samples with high spectral-resolution at speeds up to 100-fold faster than those of existing CW-SBS spectrometers. This improvement enables high-speed Brillouin material analysis.

Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the use of spontaneous Brillouin spectrometers for non-contact analysis of soft matter, such as ...

An Experimental Protocol for Femtosecond NIR/UV - XUV Pump-Probe Experiments with Free-Electron Lasers

This protocol describes key steps in performing and analyzing femtosecond pump-probe experiments that combine a femtosecond optical laser with a free-electron laser. This includes methods to establish the spatial and temporal overlap between the optical and free-electron laser pulses during the experiment, as well as important aspects of the data analysis, such as corrections for arrival time jitter, which are necessary to obtain high-quality pump-probe data sets with the best possible temporal resolution. These methods are demonstrated for an exemplary experiment performed at the FLASH (Free-electron LASer Hamburg) free-electron laser in order to study ultrafast photochemistry in gas-phase molecules by means of velocity map ion imaging. However, most of the strategies are also applicable to similar pump-probe experiments using other targets or other experimental techniques.

This protocol describes the key steps for performing and analyzing pump-probe experiments combining a femtosecond optical laser with a free-electron laser in order to study ultrafast photochemical reactions in gas-phase molecules.

This protocol describes key steps in performing and analyzing femtosecond pump-probe experiments that combine a femtosecond optical laser with a ...

Conducting Elevated Temperature Normal and Combined Pressure-Shear Plate Impact Experiments Via a Breech-end Sabot Heater System

A novel approach for conducting normal and/or combined pressure-shear plate impact experiments at test temperatures up to 1000 &#176;C is presented. The method enables elevated temperature plate-impact experiments aimed towards probing dynamic behavior of materials under thermomechanical extremes, while mitigating several special experimental challenges faced while performing similar experiments using the conventional plate impact approach. Custom adaptations are made to the breech-end of a single-stage gas-gun at Case Western Reserve University; these adaptations include a precision-machined extension piece made from SAE 4340 steel, which is strategically designed to mate the existing gun-barrel while providing a high tolerance match to the bore and keyway. The extension piece contains a vertical cylindrical heater-well, which houses a heater assembly. A resistive coil heater-head, capable of reaching temperatures of up 1200 &#176;C, is attached to a vertical stem with axial/rotational degrees of freedoms; this enables thin metal specimens held at the front-end of a heat-resistant sabot to be heated uniformly across the diameter to the desired test temperatures. By heating the flyer plate (in this case, the sample) at the breech-end of the gun-barrel instead of at the target-end, several critical experimental challenges can be averted. These include: 1) severe changes in the alignment of the target plate during heating due to the thermal expansion of the several constituents of the target holder assembly; 2) challenges that arise due to the diagnostics elements, (i.e., polymer holographic gratings, and optical probes) being too close to the heated target assembly; 3) challenges that arise for target plates with an optical window, where crucial tolerances between the sample, bond layer, and window become increasingly difficult to maintain at high temperatures; 4) in the case of combined compression-shear plate impact experiments, the need for high-temperature resistant diffraction gratings for the measurement of transverse particle velocity at the free surface of the target; and 5) limitations imposed on the impact velocity necessary for unambiguous interpretation of the measured free surface velocity versus time profile due to thermal softening and possibly yielding of the bounding target plates.By utilizing the adaptations mentioned above, we present results from a series of reverse geometry normal plate impact experiments on commercial purity aluminum at a range of sample temperatures. These experiments show decreasing particle velocities in the impacted state, which are indicative of material softening (decrease in post-yield flow stress) with increasing sample temperatures.

Here, we present a detailed protocol of a new approach for conducting elevated temperature reverse normal plate impact, and combined pressure-and-shear plate impact. The approach involves the use of a breech-end resistive coil heater to heat a sample held at the front-end of a heat-resistant sabot to the desired temperature.

A novel approach for conducting normal and/or combined pressure-shear plate impact experiments at test temperatures up to 1000 &#176;C is presented. The ...

Simultaneous Measurement of Turbulence and Particle Kinematics Using Flow Imaging Techniques

Numerous problems in scientific and engineering fields involve understanding the kinematics of particles in turbulent flows, such as contaminants, marine micro-organisms, and/or sediments in the ocean, or fluidized bed reactors and combustion processes in engineered systems. In order to study the effect of turbulence on the kinematics of particles in such flows, simultaneous measurements of both the flow and particle kinematics are required. Non-intrusive, optical flow measurement techniques for measuring turbulence, or for tracking particles, exist but measuring both simultaneously can be challenging due to interference between the techniques. The method presented herein provides a low cost and relatively simple method to make simultaneous measurements of the flow and particle kinematics. A cross section of the flow is measured using a particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, which provides two components of velocity in the measurement plane. This technique utilizes a pulsed-laser for illumination of the seeded flow field that is imaged by a digital camera. The particle kinematics are simultaneously imaged using a light emitting diode (LED) line light that illuminates a planar cross section of the flow that overlaps with the PIV field-of-view (FOV). The line light is of low enough power that it does not affect the PIV measurements, but powerful enough to illuminate the larger particles of interest imaged using the high-speed camera. High-speed images that contain the laser pulses from the PIV technique are easily filtered by examining the summed intensity level of each high-speed image. By making the frame rate of the high-speed camera incommensurate with that of the PIV camera frame rate, the number of contaminated frames in the high-speed time series can be minimized. The technique is suitable for mean flows that are predominantly two-dimensional, contain particles that are at least 5 times the mean diameter of the PIV seeding tracers, and are low in concentration.

The technique described herein offers a low cost and relatively simple method to simultaneously measure particle kinematics and turbulence in flows with low particle concentrations. The turbulence is measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV), and particle kinematics are calculated from images obtained with a high-speed camera in an overlapping field-of-view.

Numerous problems in scientific and engineering fields involve understanding the kinematics of particles in turbulent flows, such as contaminants, marine ...

High-Speed Optical Diagnostics of a Supersonic Ping-Pong Cannon

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