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Title: Thin-film optical initiator

Abstract

A thin-film optical initiator having an inert, transparent substrate, a reactive thin film, which can be either an explosive or a pyrotechnic, and a reflective thin film. The resultant thin-film optical initiator system also comprises a fiber-optic cable connected to a low-energy laser source, an output charge, and an initiator housing. The reactive thin film, which may contain very thin embedded layers or be a co-deposit of a light-absorbing material such as carbon, absorbs the incident laser light, is volumetrically heated, and explodes against the output charge, imparting about 5 to 20 times more energy than in the incident laser pulse.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
873937
Patent Number(s):
6276276
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States Department (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C06 - EXPLOSIVES C06B - EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS
C - CHEMISTRY C06 - EXPLOSIVES C06C - DETONATING OR PRIMING DEVICES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
thin-film; optical; initiator; inert; transparent; substrate; reactive; film; explosive; pyrotechnic; reflective; resultant; comprises; fiber-optic; cable; connected; low-energy; laser; source; output; charge; housing; contain; embedded; layers; co-deposit; light-absorbing; material; carbon; absorbs; incident; light; volumetrically; heated; explodes; imparting; 20; times; energy; pulse; transparent substrate; incident laser; absorbing material; laser pulse; laser light; laser source; optic cable; output charge; energy laser; thin-film optical; optical initiator; fiber-optic cable; parent substrate; sorbing material; cable connected; /102/149/

Citation Formats

Erickson, Kenneth L. Thin-film optical initiator. United States: N. p., 2001. Web.
Erickson, Kenneth L. Thin-film optical initiator. United States.
Erickson, Kenneth L. Mon . "Thin-film optical initiator". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873937.
@article{osti_873937,
title = {Thin-film optical initiator},
author = {Erickson, Kenneth L},
abstractNote = {A thin-film optical initiator having an inert, transparent substrate, a reactive thin film, which can be either an explosive or a pyrotechnic, and a reflective thin film. The resultant thin-film optical initiator system also comprises a fiber-optic cable connected to a low-energy laser source, an output charge, and an initiator housing. The reactive thin film, which may contain very thin embedded layers or be a co-deposit of a light-absorbing material such as carbon, absorbs the incident laser light, is volumetrically heated, and explodes against the output charge, imparting about 5 to 20 times more energy than in the incident laser pulse.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2001},
month = {1}
}