LASER ORDNANCE IGNITION SYSTEMS

OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES LASERS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AS EXCELLENT SOURCES OF RADIANT ENERGY FOR IGNITION OF PROPELLING CHARGES AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE AND COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES. THEY OFFER SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES IN PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY. HOWEVER, THEIR WIDE RANGE USE IS STILL HAMPERED BECAUSE THE INTENSE LASER POWER CAN CAUSE UNCONTROLLABLE AND POORLY REPRODUCIBLE IGNITIONS WHICH, IN TURN, LEAD TO UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE. THIS PROPOSAL OFFERS THREE INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO ALLEVIATE CURRENT DEFICIENCIES. IT IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT THE ATTAINMENT OF BOTH FLAWLESS COUPLING AND PERFECT RESONANCE BETWEEN LASER, FIBER OPTIC AND EXPLOSIVES WILL CIRCUMVENT ALL THE DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTREMELY HIGH POWER DENSITY INCIDENT ON THE EXPLOSIVES BY THE LASER PULSE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF PHASE I IS TO EXPERIMENTALLY DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THESE NOVEL IDEAS AND TO SELECT THE BEST TECHNIQUE(S) FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. TO THIS END, A THREE-TASK WORK PLAN HAS BEEN PROVIDED. IF FEASIBILITY IS PROVEN, LASER IGNITION SYSTEMS WILL REPLACE MOST OF CURRENT CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.