Analytic method for calculating the time--temperature history of metal foils under pulsed irradiation and a Gaussian beam profile

Utilization of a pulsed radiation source such as the Clinton P. Anderson Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) for materials science studies requires knowledge of the time--temperature history of a subject metal foil. An analytic solution was derived to a two-dimensional heat flow equation, incorporating the LAMPF time structure and the LAMPF Gaussian beam spot profile. This calculational method is useful in designing experimental systems for materials science studies and can be done on a Hewlett--Packard model 97 desk-top calculator. The results were compared with an equivalent numerical solution of the same two-dimensional heat flow problem done on a digital computer