Thin-film optical initiator

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873937

Erickson, Kenneth L ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

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.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Department (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 6276276
• OSTI ID: 873937
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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
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