Mach Diamonds: Winner Of "Excellent Slow Motion" Award

Mach disks, or “shock diamonds,” are the result of standing shockwaves caused by abrupt pressure changes, usually only seen in the under expanded flow of gas from a jet engine. As the winner of the “Excellent Slow Motion Award” at ICHSIP 31 in Osaka, Japan, this video sequence shows the liftoff of a pressurized PET drink bottle from a toy rocket captured with a Phantom Camera at 50,000 fps, and slowed for viewing by factor of 2,000.