A technique and apparatus for optically detonating insensitive high explosives, is disclosed. An explosive device is formed by containing high explosive material in a housing having a transparent window. A thin metallic film is provided on the interior surface of the window and maintained in contact with the high explosive. A laser pulse provided by a Q-switched laser is focussed on the window to vaporize the metallic film and thereby create a shock wave which detonates the high explosive. A plurality of explosive devices may be concurrently or sequentially detonated by employing a fiber optic bundle to transmit the laser pulse to each of the several individual explosive devices.
A laser driven flyer plate utilizing an optical fiber connected to a laser. The end of the optical fiber has a layer of carbon and a metal layer deposited onto it. The carbon layer provides the laser induced plasma which is superior to the plasma produced from most metals. The carbon layer plasma is capable of providing a flatter flyer plate, converting more of the laser energy to driving plasma, promoting a higher flyer plate acceleration, and providing a more uniform pulse behind the plate. In another embodiment, the laser is in optical communication with a substrate onto which a layer of carbon and a layer of metal have been deposited.
A method and system for the Multi-Point ignition of a propellant of an exsive material comprising the steps of: selecting an elongated optic fiber; attaching a suitable energetic material at several sites thereon, irradiating on end of the optic fiber so that light energy is transmitted through the optic fiber and exited at the site of the sensitive material to ignite the material.
4149466 - Explosive device - Owned by Banyaszati Kutato Intezet (Budapest,HU) Chinoin Gyogyszer es Vegyeszeti Termekek (Budapest,HU)
An explosive device comprises an explosive charge and an initiator, the initiator having a discharge lamp optically coupled with said explosive charge and connected to a voltage source via a first switch. According to the invention said discharge lamp has a series resistor shunted via a second switch which is open before and closed when the explosive charge is initiated. The glow discharge evoked through said series resistor cannot initiate the explosive charge, but it shortens the time delay of the avalanche discharge and makes it independent of the stochastic natural ionization.
A metal clad end attached to a fiber optic bundle. Said end being provided ith snap rings to plug into a grooved socket in the propellant container, and an O-ring surrounding the end portion of said metal clad end to seal against the wall of said socket.
A trigger system for chemical actuators, e.g. of the type used for high voltage isolation, is disclosed. A light source, preferably a laser, emits a powerful, highly concentrated pulse of light energy. The pulse is conveyed by fiber optics to a chemical explosive charge, which it detonates. Because the fiber optics used are excellent electrical insulators, it is possible to locate all of the trigger system except the output end of the fiber optics at ground potential, eliminating the need for shielding the trigger system against high-voltage noise.
